A 26-year-old Medford man has pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide and eight other charges in a drunken-driving crash in which he was traveling 117 mph in a 30-mph zone before striking trees, killing a 22-year-old passenger and injuring two others, Suffolk County prosecutors said.
Jefry Valdez Cruz, a citizen of El Salvador living in Medford, pleaded guilty Oct. 16 in connection with the Oct. 6, 2025, crash that killed Edgar Guevara Ramos, 22. He is expected to receive a prison sentence of four to 12 years.
According to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Valdez Cruz and three other people had attended a barbecue where he consumed alcohol before getting into his BMW.
At approximately 2:53 a.m., Valdez Cruz was driving southbound on Bellport Avenue in Medford when he crossed into the northbound lane and crashed into trees on the opposite side of the road.
Guevara Ramos was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Two other passengers were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, including one who suffered serious injuries.
Investigators recovered data from the BMW’s event data recorder showing that Valdez Cruz was traveling 117 mph approximately three seconds before the crash. The posted speed limit was 30 mph.
A blood sample taken at the hospital approximately one hour after the crash showed Valdez Cruz had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.14%, nearly twice New York’s legal limit of 0.08%.
“Every person who drinks and drives takes the same gamble that this defendant took,” Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney said. “Unfortunately, as we see far too often, a young passenger paid for that gamble with his life. My office remains committed to holding impaired drivers accountable.”
Valdez Cruz pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz to all nine counts of the indictment, including aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular assault and third-degree assault.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.
Valdez Cruz is scheduled to return to court Dec. 2, 2026. He is expected to be sentenced to four to 12 years in prison.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer requesting custody of Valdez Cruz after he completes his sentence.
Photo: Jefry Valdez Cruz, 26, pleaded guilty in a fatal DWI crash in Medford that killed a 22-year-old passenger in October 2025. (Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office)
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