JAY STREET — A man who was driving while intoxicated when he struck and killed a 13-year-old boy in Bushwick was indicted yesterday, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes announced. Melvin Morales, 34, was drunk at the time of the incident and driving with a suspended license. He reportedly worked for CUZ Auto and Collision, a Brooklyn company.

Morales was indicted on the top charge of second-degree manslaughter, a Class-C felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was also indicted on charges including driving while under the influence of alcohol, driving while impaired, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting.

Just after 12 a.m. on Sunday, April 29, Morales was driving a black tow truck toward the intersection of Palmetto Street and Central Avenue, when he struck the boy, Anthony Delgado, who was riding his bicycle home from a party. Morales then fled the scene. Police officers from the 83rd Precinct chased after him.

A short while later, the same police officers found the truck occupied by the defendant in front of 1780 Broadway. He had watery eyes and alcohol on his breath.

When Morales was arrested, he had a blood alcohol level of .096 percent. It is illegal to operate a vehicle in New York State with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more.

Delgado was pronounced dead on arrival at Brookdale Hospital.

Jennifer Nocella, deputy bureau chief in the Vehicular Crimes Bureau, is prosecuting the case.

© Brooklyn Daily Eagle 2007
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