An East Elmhurst woman last week was charged with vehicular assault and other offenses—including driving while under the influence of alcohol and failing to stop—after hitting a pedestrian and several parked vehicles.
Gisel Carchi, 21, was released last Thursday on $30,000 bail cash or bond following arraignment on charges of first- and second-degree vehicular assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an incident without reporting/serious physical injury, fourth-degree criminal mischief and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
According to the criminal charges, police last Monday responded to a car accident at the intersection of Vernon Boulevard and 31st Drive just before 4 p.m. Cops were allegedly informed by an eyewitness that she observed a Nissan vehicle strike her parked 2013 Ford vehicle and then strike Yanni Arvanitopoulous, 37, before driving off without stopping to exchange identification, insurance or registration information.
Arvanitopoulous was transported to an area hospital where he was diagnosed with paralysis of the left leg, a shattered right knee, a broken right ankle and substantial pain to his back and pelvis which will require further medical testing.
According to the charges, a review of video surveillance showed the Nissan vehicle strike Arvanitopoulous on the sidewalk, then swerve back into the street and nearly strike another pedestrian on the opposite sidewalk. The Nissan vehicle, which was being driven by Carchi, was allegedly stopped only after hitting two more parked vehicles. Carchi was then removed to the 112th Precinct in Forest Hills where an Intoxilyzer test was administered and the results allegedly indicated that Carchi had a .201 of one percent or more by weight of alcohol in her blood.
In statements made to authorities, Carchi allegedly said that she and a friend had gone to a restaurant where they shared a bowl of some alcoholic drink and that when they left the restaurant, she drove.
“I guess I hit a car,” she allegedly stated, “I didn’t even know I hit somebody.”
Brown said, “My office has zero tolerance when it comes to individuals getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol. In this case, the defendant is alleged to have driven up onto the sidewalk, striking both a pedestrian and a vehicle, before fleeing the scene and hitting two additional vehicles. The defendant now faces felony assault and drunk driving charges.”
If convicted, Carchi faces up to seven years in prison.
