Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Carnage

Driver Pleads to Manslaughter for Killing Washington Heights Pedestrian

Jonatan Segura hit two people at 181st Street and Amsterdam Avenue in January 2016, killing Jorge Encarnacion. Image: Google Maps

A drunk hit-and-run driver who hit two people in Washington Heights in 2016, killing Jorge Encarnacion, has pled guilty to manslaughter.

At around 4:15 a.m. on January 30, Jonatan Segura, then 34, was driving a BMW sedan on 181st Street near Amsterdam Avenue when he hit a pickup truck and struck Encarnacion and an unidentified 46-year-old woman.

Signs of a high-speed collision were evident at the crash site. Photos published by the Daily News show the BMW, a racing sticker affixed to the back window, with extensive damage to the front end and windshield. The crash caused the airbags in the pickup truck to deploy.

Segura fled the scene and later turned himself in to police, according to the News.

Encarnacion, 46, died at Lincoln Hospital. The other pedestrian victim was hospitalized.

Segura was charged with manslaughter, two counts of assault, homicide, leaving the scene, and drunk driving -- all felonies -- in addition to misdemeanor assault and misdemeanor leaving the scene. He pled guilty to all charges last month, according to court records.

Manslaughter, the top charge against Segura, is a class C felony with penalties ranging from probation to 15 years in prison. Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance's office recommended Segura be sentenced to five to 15 years. The judge promised him a sentence of four to 12 years, according to Vance's office.

Segura's sentencing hearing is set for later this month.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

World Day of Remembrance: ‘My Brother Did Not Die in Vain’

A drunk driver killed Kevin Cruickshank while he was biking in New York City. The movement for safer streets showed me that my brother did not die in vain.

November 16, 2025

World Day of Remembrance: The Fight to ‘Stop Super Speeders’ Has Gone National

The bills would require the worst of the worst drivers to at least adhere to the speed limit, which is not too much to ask.

November 16, 2025

Council Members Put Everything But Riders First at ‘Bus Oversight’ Hearing

The Council spent its last bus oversight hearing of its term asking the MTA and city to pull back on bus lane enforcement.

November 14, 2025

Community Board Defies Parents in Vote to Reopen Forest Park to Cars

The Parks Department appears to have given in to a vocal group of Queens drivers. Paging Mayor Mamdani!

November 14, 2025

Opinion: Daylighting Isn’t Anti-Driver — It’s Pro-Common Sense

Listen to a Republican: "The Department of Transportation's negative report on daylighting is like judging the effectiveness of lifeboats on the Titanic by studying the ones that never left the ship."

November 14, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: More Agenda Items Edition

Transportation Alternatives laid out, in 85 chunky bullet points, what the next major should do. Plus other news.

November 14, 2025
See all posts