Sofa-chain exec charged in highway death

The chief executive of Woodbury-based Jennifer Convertibles Inc. told police this week that he had a vodka drink and a glass of wine before an accident in which police say he struck and killed a man crossing the Whitestone Expressway, court documents said.

Harley J. Greenfield, 65, of Manhattan, was charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol and drugs after police said his car struck Mohammed Rohman, 45, an immigrant from Bangladesh who, a friend said, was about to work an overtime shift Wednesday as a security guard at the MTA's College Point bus depot.

Greenfield was released without bail. He declined to comment Friday. The case is under investigation and prosecutors are awaiting results of a blood test, said Helen Peterson, spokeswoman for the Queens district attorney's office.

Rohman's friends and family are hoping prosecutors will charge Greenfield with manslaughter. Rohman worked hard to provide a good life for his wife and two daughters, said Paul Khan, of Jamaica, who had known Rohman for 30 years.

Khan said a memorial service was held Friday at the Jamaica Muslim Center for Rohman, who worked for Uniondale-based Summit Security.

The accident happened about 10:46 p.m. Wednesday at the southbound Whitestone Expressway and Ulmer Street, the criminal complaint said.

The officer at the scene described Greenfield as being in an "impaired condition due to the consumption of alcohol" and noted that his eyes were red and watery, the complaint stated.

A portable breath test at the scene revealed a 0.067 blood-alcohol content, court papers said. The state's legal limit is 0.8. Greenfield later refused to consent to an Intoxilyzer exam and police had to obtain a warrant to take blood tests, the document said.