East Rockaway man charged with manslaughter in fatal collision in Woodmere

A East Rockaway man was charged Thursday with causing a high-speed March 19 crash in Woodmere that killed a Valley Stream father who was driving his 10-year-old son to school, Nassau County prosecutors said.

Brayan Romero Flores, 24, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in First District Court in Hempstead on charges of second-degree manslaughter in connection with the death of Michael Kreindler, 39. Flores was also charged with criminally negligent homicide, second-degree assault and reckless driving.

State Supreme Court Justice Howard Sturim remanded Flores without bail, records show.

Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly said in a statement: "A father was driving his 10-year-old son to school when he was blindsided by the defendant, who allegedly barreled into the victim’s car at more than double the speed limit after previously running a red light. After weeks in the hospital fighting for his life, Michael tragically died from his injuries."

Jenna Spelke, Flores' Nassau County Legal Aid attorney, did not respond to a request for comment. Flores, who faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count, is due back in court on June 4.

On the morning of the crash, Kreindler was driving a 2023 Tesla Model 3 west on University Place shortly before 8 a.m. when he made a left turn onto Branch Boulevard and collided with a 2019 Honda Accord operated by Flores, authorities said.

Both vehicles sustained severe damage, prosecutors said.

One second before the crash, Flores was driving 81 mph, more than double the speed limit, according to an event data recorder obtained by search warrant from the Accord, authorities said. Prosecutors said Flores applied the brakes only one second before impact and was driving at 99% acceleration five seconds before the crash.

Dash camera video, recovered from Flores' vehicle during the search warrant, contained footage of Flores running a red light five minutes before the crash while driving approximately 77 mph, Donnelly's office said.

Kreindler was taken by ambulance to Mount Sinai-South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside with serious injuries. Kreindler's son and Flores were each taken to the hospital and released with minor injuries.

Michael Kreindler remained on life support until April 7 when he was pronounced dead, officials said.