Long Beach man sentenced to prison for 2022 DWI crash

A Long Beach man was sentenced to 5 to 12 years in prison Tuesday for a 2022 crash that resulted in him killing a Rockville Centre community member. 

Christopher Flores, 29, was driving his motorcycle drunk on March 19, 2022 just before midnight. Scott Brower, 42, was crossing Merrick Road at South Forest Avenue in a crosswalk when he was struck by Flores driving a 2020 BMW motorcycle while intoxicated, long with having marijuana in his system. Flores was thrown from the motorcycle, which crashed into another vehicle before finally coming to rest.

Brower was transported to Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, where he died at 1:40 a.m.

Flores also suffered significant physical injuries and was transported to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside for treatment. Blood taken from Flores at the hospital showed a BAC of .17% and evidence of cannabis use.

Flores pleaded guilty in February to second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs and driving while intoxicated. 

“Christopher Flores was more than two times the legal limit for alcohol and high on marijuana when he slammed into Scott Brower as he crossed Merrick Road,”District Attorney Anne Donnelly previously said. “Scott was walking home after meeting a friend at a local restaurant to watch the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament and have a few drinks. Scott chose not to drive, and despite making the responsible choice, still tragically lost his life to drunk driving. Pedestrians should not have to fear being mowed down by an impaired driver on our streets. NCDA will continue to vigorously prosecute individuals who flout our laws and endanger our residents.”

This is the second time Flores has been convicted for drunk driving.