A tragic late-night crash in Queens has left a family grieving after a 54-year-old mother of four was killed while riding her electric scooter.
Prosecutors say the driver who struck her was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. The accused now faces serious criminal charges and could spend years in prison if convicted.
Grand Jury Indicts Driver in Fatal Crash
A Queens grand jury has indicted 30-year-old Ryan Rampersaud in connection with the death of Blanca Arias-Miranda.
He has been charged with:
- Second-degree vehicular manslaughter
- Criminally negligent homicide
- Two counts of driving while under the influence of alcohol
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said the victim had the right of way and was riding in a designated bike lane when she was hit.
How the Crash Happened
According to prosecutors, the crash occurred around 1:40 a.m. on January 4 in Astoria, Queens.
Authorities say Rampersaud was driving a 2009 Honda Civic southbound on Crescent Street. When he attempted to make a left turn at 30th Drive, he allegedly failed to yield to oncoming traffic.
Blanca Arias-Miranda was riding her stand-up electric scooter in a marked bike lane at the time. Officials say she had the right of way when the vehicle struck her.
The impact reportedly threw her from the scooter, causing her to hit her head on the pavement.
Emergency Response and Hospitalisation
A nearby pedestrian witnessed the crash and immediately called 911. Paramedics rushed Arias-Miranda to a local hospital, where she was treated for severe brain trauma.
Despite medical efforts, she was pronounced dead two days later.
Rampersaud remained at the scene until police arrived.
Signs of Alleged Intoxication
Police officers who responded to the scene reported that Rampersaud showed visible signs of intoxication. According to authorities, he had:
- Slurred speech
- Bloodshot eyes
- Trouble standing steadily
- A strong smell of alcohol
- Vomit on the front seat of his car
After being taken to the police station, he refused to take a Breathalyzer test. Officers later obtained a court order to conduct a blood test, which allegedly showed a blood alcohol level of 0.12%. The legal limit in New York is 0.08%.
Family Seeks Justice
Blanca Arias-Miranda’s family described her as the heart of their household — a devoted wife, loving mother, and proud grandmother.
They have set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral and legal expenses. In addition to the criminal case, the family’s civil attorney stated they may consider legal action against the city, citing concerns about traffic light patterns at the intersection where the crash occurred.
Court Proceedings and Possible Sentence
Rampersaud made his first court appearance before Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael J. Hartofilis. He is scheduled to return to court on March 26.
If convicted, he could face up to seven years in prison.
