For Immediate Release
January 27, 2021
Dana King, Jr. waited outside his ex-girlfriend’s house, followed her as she entered another car and instigated a high-speed chase that killed 22-year old driver
MINEOLA, N.Y. – Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Valley Stream man was sentenced today five to 12 years in prison for a high-speed chase and ramming that ended in a fatal crash.
Dana King, Jr., 24, pleaded guilty on November 13 before Judge Fran Ricigliano to manslaughter in the second degree (a C felony) and assault in the second degree (a D violent felony). The defendant was sentenced to five to 12 years in prison and three years’ post-release supervision by Judge Ricigliano today.
“Dana King’s obsession with his ex-girlfriend went from stalking to a maniacal high-speed car chase in a matter of minutes and ended in a crash that permanently injured the young woman and killed Jim Hayes – just because Hayes was driving a car with her in it,” DA Singas said. “This is not a case of ‘love sickness.’ This is a case of a defendant’s need to criminally control another person’s life, and Dana King senselessly killed a 22-year old father in the process. Our thoughts are with Ms. Rodriguez and the Hayes family.”
DA Singas said that on March 18, 2019, at 11:30 p.m., the victim, 22-year-old Jim Hayes, Jr., picked up Isabel Rodriguez from her Valley Stream home in a lime green 2007 BMW. About a block from the house, the woman noticed her ex-boyfriend, the defendant, driving a black 2009 Audi behind them. The defendant then began to chase their vehicle at a high rate of speed from Valley Stream to Hempstead, at times making contact with the BMW.
While on Baldwin Avenue in Hempstead, the defendant’s vehicle struck the Audi, causing it to become airborne and crash into a tree. The force of the crash caused the defendant’s vehicle to continue out-of-control, crashing into two parked cars, spinning, and ultimately coming to rest several hundred feet from the initial area of impact.
The impact killed Hayes, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and caused serious injury to Rodriguez, who was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where she was treated for a broken arm and broken back.
Deputy Bureau Chief Katie Zizza and Senior Assistant District Attorney Tara DePalo of DA Singas’ Vehicular Crimes Bureau are prosecuting this case. Michael DerGarabedian, Esq. represents the defendant.
###