Nicholas Doxtader, of Centereach, charged with driving while impaired after fatally striking man who fell from wheelchair
Nicholas Doxtader, 25, of Centereach, confers with his attorney Sunday at First District Court in Central Islip. Credit: James Carbone
A Centereach man faces a charge of driving while ability impaired by drugs after striking and killing a pedestrian Saturday night on Middle Country Road in Coram, Suffolk County police said.
Nicholas Doxtader, 25, pleaded not guilty to the charge Sunday afternoon at First District Court in Central Islip and was released with nonmonetary conditions, according to court records.
About 10:15 p.m. Saturday, Doxtader was westbound in a 2003 Chevy Suburban when he struck Raymond Hubbard, 33, a Coram man who had fallen from his wheelchair into a lane of the roadway, Suffolk County police said in a news release.
Hubbard, 33, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner's Office, according to the release.
Hubbard had been attempting to cross the street west of Mooney Pond Road when he fell, police said.
Officers determined Doxtader was driving impaired and arrested him at the scene, police said. He was held overnight at the Sixth Precinct.
After his arraignment, he left the courthouse with his father and grandmother.
“I’m very sorry. I’m very sorry,” Doxtader answered when asked by reporters if he had anything to say to Hubbard's family.
His attorney would not comment.
Suffolk detectives ask anyone with information to call the Major Case Unit at 631-852-6555.
With James Carbone
Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.
