Carnage

Probation and Fine for Unlicensed Driver Who Killed Abrehet Hagos in Washington Heights

Kyara DeJesus hit Abrehet Hagos with a Mercedes at Broadway and W. 180th Street. She was not charged by NYPD or Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance for taking the victim’s life.

By Brad Aaron

2:53 PM EDT on October 30, 2017

Probation and Fine for Unlicensed Driver Who Killed Abrehet Hagos in Washington Heights

Broadway and 180th Street, where Kyara DeJesus killed Abrehet Hagos. Photo: Google Maps

A motorist who killed a pedestrian while driving without a valid license in Washington Heights last year was sentenced to probation and a fine.

Kyara DeJesus, of Harlem, hit 50-year-old Abrehet Hagos with a Mercedes at Broadway and W. 180th Street on the evening of November 13, 2016, causing fatal injuries to the victim’s head and torso.

Hagos, a resident of the Bronx, died at Harlem Hospital.

DeJesus, then 24, was charged with second degree aggravated unlicensed operation. She was not charged by NYPD or Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance for the act of killing Hagos.

In exchange for a guilty plea, last week DeJesus was sentenced to two years probation and a fine of $1,000, plus $88 in fees, according to court records.

A low-level misdemeanor, aggravated unlicensed operation is the default charge applied by prosecutors when a motorist kills a person while driving without a valid license. Unlicensed drivers killed at least six people walking in NYC in 2016, according to crash data tracked by Streetsblog. None of those drivers was charged for taking a life.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles revoked DeJesus’s license, which means she may apply to have her driving privileges reinstated after a period of time prescribed by the DMV.

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

Streetsblog has migrated to a new comment system. New commenters can register directly in the comments section of any article. Returning commenters: your previous comments and display name have been preserved, but you'll need to reclaim your account by clicking "Forgot your password?" on the sign-in form, entering your email, and following the verification link to set a new password — this is required because passwords could not be carried over during the migration. For questions, contact tips@streetsblog.org.