Queens man admits to vehicular homicide in deaths of LI mom, daughter

A Queens man pleaded guilty Thursday to a vehicular homicide charge related to a July 2021 crash in Queens that killed a Copiague mother and her 10-year-old daughter, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced Thursday.

Tyrone Absolam, 42, of Jamaica, Queens, pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael B. Aloise.

At about 8:45 p.m. on last July 24, 2021, Absolam was driving a gray 2018 Nissan Altima west on Rockaway Boulevard in Brookville, Queens, near Kennedy Airport, when he crashed into a 2020 Chevrolet Cruze, driven by Diana Granobles, 31, killing her and her daughter Isabella, the Queens County District Attorney's Office said in a news release.

Absolam was traveling at 94 mph, on a street with a posted speed limit of 35 mph, just two seconds before crashing into the victim’s car as she tried to make a left turn at the intersection of Rockaway and Guy R. Brewer boulevards, authorities said.

“In pleading guilty, the defendant has taken responsibility for the vehicle collision that resulted in the tragic deaths of a mother and her young daughter,” Katz said in a statement. “No amount of accountability will heal the pain felt by this loss, but I hope today’s plea and subsequent sentencing will provide a measure of closure to the loved ones of both victims.”

Arnold Keith Jr., Absolam’s attorney, did not immediately return a request for comment.

The night of the crash, Diana and Isabella Granobles were transported to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead, authorities said.

Absolam was operating the vehicle with a blood alcohol level of .15% — above the legal limit of .08. He had three passengers in his car — a 12-year-old boy, a 16-year-old girl and a 38-year-old woman — who were also transported the night of the crash to a hospital with injuries, authorities said.

Absolam is to be sentenced on Sept. 15 and is expected to get 5 to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said as well as “additional security provisions” including a revoked license and ignition interlock device.