It started like any other morning at a busy Merrick intersection until a driver allegedly nodded off behind the wheel, and seconds later, a man known for protecting children was fighting for his life.
Prosecutors say 70-year-old John Miro was doing what he had done for years – helping kids safely cross Sunrise Highway and even clearing snow from the sidewalk- when everything changed.
According to the indictment, Joshua Alvarado, 30, of Queens, was driving a commercial pickup truck eastbound on Sunrise Highway around 8 a.m. on February 26. He had reportedly stopped at a red light at Merrick Avenue but then fell asleep.
When the light turned green, witnesses said horns from other drivers jolted him awake.
What happened next unfolded in seconds.
Instead of continuing straight, authorities say Alvarado drove diagonally through the intersection, veering toward Merrick Avenue, jumping the curb, and crashing onto the sidewalk, directly into Miro.
The impact was devastating.
Miro suffered severe head trauma, a broken hip, and multiple broken ribs. He was rushed to Nassau University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. But despite efforts to save him, his condition worsened, and he died from his injuries on March 6.
Investigators say what caused the crash is even more disturbing.
Toxicology reports revealed Alvarado was allegedly under the influence of multiple substances, including Xanax, Clonazepam, and a potent illegal drug often referred to as “street Xanax.”
Authorities say he was on his way to a service call for an extermination company at the time.
The case took a major turn this week when a grand jury indicted Alvarado on multiple charges, including manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, assault, and driving while impaired by drugs.
He pleaded not guilty and was remanded. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. He is due back in court on May 5.
For many in Merrick, the loss is deeply personal. Miro wasn’t just a crossing guard, he was a familiar face at one of the area’s busiest intersections, someone parents trusted every single morning.
The charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Photo: Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly at a podium in October 2025/Facebook.
