NEW YORK: Queens D.A. indicts Jason Bical for death of Taher Ali Hassan in DUI crash

BROOKLYN RESIDENT INDICTED IN CRASH THAT KILLED MAN ON BELT PARKWAY

Taher Ali Hassan was struck by a drunk driver on Wednesday and taken off life support by family on Friday

Taher Ali Hassan was struck by a drunk driver on Wednesday and taken off life support by family on Friday. (Family Photo)

November 9, 2021
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz on November 9, 2021, announced that Jason Bical, 35, has been indicted by a Queens County grand jury and arraigned in Supreme Court on aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, and other charges. The defendant was allegedly driving his vehicle at 92 mph while under the influence of both alcohol and drugs when he hit and killed a man, who was tending to a minor fender bender on the westbound lanes of the Belt Parkway in December 2020.

District Attorney Katz said, “Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs unacceptable. The defendant, in this case, was allegedly intoxicated and driving at speeds up to 92 mph when he struck a person on the Belt Parkway. A family is now mourning a loved one’s untimely and needless death. We must do better. All drivers need to be mindful that they share the roads with other motorists and bear a responsibility to be safe and sober.”

Bical, of East 73rd Street in Brooklyn, was arraigned this morning before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael B. Aloise on an 11-count indictment charging him with aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter in the first and second degree, manslaughter in the second degree, criminally negligent homicide, assault in the second degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle while impaired by combined use of drugs or of alcohol and drugs and reckless driving. Justice Aloise ordered the defendant to return to Court on December 9, 2021. Bical faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

According to the charges, shortly after 1 a.m. on December 9, 2020, the victim, Taher Ali Hassan, also of Brooklyn, was involved in a minor collision on the Belt Parkway with another motorist. Hassan exited his automobile and moments later was struck by a white 2017 Chevrolet Malibu allegedly driven by the defendant. The 63-year-old victim was rushed to Jamaica Hospital with severe head trauma. Mr. Hassan died as a result of his injuries a day later.

The DA added that Bical took a portable breathalyzer test at the scene which indicated the defendant’s blood-alcohol level was allegedly .174 – twice the legal limit. Further toxicology results showed that Bical allegedly had both cocaine and marijuana in his system at the time of the crash. The automobiles crash data recorded allegedly revealed the defendant was driving at 92 mph just five seconds before striking the victim. The posted speed limit on the Belt Parkway is 50 mph.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Kwang Choi of the New York City Police Department’s Collision Investigation Squad.

Assistant District Attorney Timothy McGrath, of the District Attorney’s Felony Trials Bureau I, is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Mark Osnowitz, Bureau Chief, Rosemary Chao, Deputy Bureau Chief, Charissa Ilardi, Unit Chief, Michael Kavanagh, Section Chief, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney of Trials Pishoy Yacoub.