An East Hampton man has been indicted in connection with a New Year’s Day hit-and-run crash in Queens that killed a 27-year-old man, seriously injured another pedestrian and was followed by the defendant allegedly fleeing the country, prosecutors said.
Jonnathan Barbecho, 30, of East Hampton, was arraigned Aug. 6 on a 19-count indictment charging him with aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, vehicular assault and other offenses, according to Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.
Prosecutors said Barbecho was at a bar on 104th Street in Corona on Dec. 31, 2025. At about 4 a.m. on Jan. 1, he allegedly left the bar and got into a white Chevrolet Traverse SUV to drive two companions home.
Barbecho was allegedly driving southbound at a high rate of speed on 102nd Street when he passed through the intersection at 37th Avenue and struck two men who were walking in a crosswalk.
Darwin Adrian Malan Cargua, 27, was thrown underneath a parked vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene from blunt force head injuries, prosecutors said.
Photo: The victim, Darwin Adrian Malan Cargua.
The second pedestrian, Luis Paco Romero Gaucho, who was one day shy of his 24th birthday, was taken to a hospital and underwent multiple surgeries. Prosecutors said he remains in a vegetative state.
Barbecho allegedly continued driving without stopping to help the victims or identify himself.
Prosecutors said he drove a short distance before stopping near 39th Avenue and 103rd Street. He allegedly refused to return to the crash scene and later separated from his companions.
At 4 a.m. on Jan. 2, Barbecho allegedly boarded a flight from Kennedy Airport to Ecuador. Investigators found his SUV the following day with its license plates and registration removed and front-end collision damage, according to the district attorney.
Barbecho was later stopped by local authorities while attempting to enter Honduras and was returned to the United States to face the charges.
The district attorney said Barbecho’s driver’s license had already been suspended following an April 13, 2025 arrest for allegedly operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
In that case, prosecutors said Barbecho was found passed out in the driver’s seat of the same vehicle while double parked with the engine running at 37th Avenue and Warren Street. An Intoxilyzer test allegedly showed a blood alcohol content of .106%, above the legal limit of .08%.
That case was still pending when the fatal Jan. 1 crash occurred, according to prosecutors. Barbecho later failed to appear in court and a bench warrant was issued Jan. 23.
The new indictment charges Barbecho with aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, first-degree vehicular assault, two counts of second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, two counts of leaving the scene of an incident without reporting, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving and multiple vehicle violations.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Gary Miret ordered Barbecho held without bail and scheduled his next court appearance for Aug. 21.
If convicted, Barbecho faces more than 25 years in prison.
The charges are accusations, and Barbecho is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
