Delivery driver pleads not guilty to dragging death of woman in North Babylon

The driver pleaded not guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor for leaving the scene.

News 12 Staff

Jul 31, 2019, 11:51 AM

Updated 1,955 days ago

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The driver of a van that allegedly struck two people and dragged one of them to her death was arraigned Tuesday on charges related to leaving the scene of a deadly crash.
AutoZone delivery man Donnell Hicks, of Queens, is accused of striking a man and woman who were walking together on Deer Park Avenue Monday around 1 p.m.
Police say he dragged the female pedestrian, who was caught in his wheel well, for several blocks before stopping on a side street – even though prosecutors said in court that he admitted hearing people screaming at him.
According to court documents, Hicks said he “heard a guy yelling. I heard a woman screaming, but didn't know she was under my van. I stopped on a side street, looked under the van and saw the woman. I think she was still alive."
"This is a scene that no one wants to see,” says Suffolk County DA Tom Sini. “You're talking about an individual who drove possibly up to half a mile with an individual lodged under his car.”
Ann Marie Christina was transported to the hospital and died from her injuries. Eric Krems was also taken to the hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. Police say victims Christina, 38, and Krems, 40, were dating.
News 12 is told that Christina was a mother of two children, an 11-year-old son and a 7-year-old daughter.
Police say information after the crash led them to another AutoZone on Portion Road in Ronkonkoma, where they then took 26-year-old Hicks into custody.
In court, Hicks pleaded not guilty to one felony and one misdemeanor for leaving the scene. The judge also suspended his license.
Bail was set at $100,000 or $200,000 bond. Hicks is due back in court Friday.
Suffolk District Attorney Tim Sini said additional charges could be added pending the outcome of the investigation.