Press Release

Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Mariam Alli was indicted by a grand jury for aggravated vehicular assault, aggravated driving while intoxicated, endangering the welfare of a child and other crimes for speeding through a red light and slamming into another vehicle, seriously injuring her 3-year-old son, 2-year-old daughter and another passenger in her car. Alli had allegedly left the young children alone in her car for close to two hours prior to the collision while she was inside a South Ozone Park bar.

DA Katz said: “As alleged, the defendant not only jeopardized the safety of her children by leaving them unattended in a car while she was drinking inside of a bar, but also further endangered their lives – and the lives of everyone else on the road — by then driving drunk. It is a miracle that no one was killed because of the defendant’s alleged reckless actions. We will aggressively prosecute those who choose to ignore the rules of the road, which are designed to keep us all safe.”

Alli, 24, of 104^th Street in Ozone Park, was arraigned yesterday on an 18-count indictment charging her with three counts of aggravated vehicular assault, three counts of assault in the second degree, vehicular assault in the second degree, two counts of aggravated driving while intoxicated, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, driving in excess of the maximum speed limit, failing to stop at a steady red signal and two counts of operating a motor vehicle without a passenger properly restrained with seat belt or safety seat.

Queens Criminal Supreme Court Justice Michael Hartofilis ordered her to return to court November 20.  If convicted, the defendant faces up to 15 years in prison.

DA Katz said that, according to the charges and investigation, on August 13, at approximately 9:27 p.m., Alli and a 21-year-old companion were inside the Tropix Lounge on Lefferts Boulevard in South Ozone Park and were seated at the bar. Alli drank multiple beers and the pair left the lounge around 11:30 p.m.

The defendant’s two children, ages 2 and 3, were allegedly left unattended inside of Alli’s car for about two hours while their mother was inside the lounge.

At approximately 12:02 a.m., the defendant allegedly sped through a steady right light and was driving on the wrong side of the roadway through the intersection of 84^th Road and Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park. Alli struck a Mazda SUV that was being driven by a motorist who had the right of way.

The defendant’s 3-year-old son was taken to the hospital and treated for a hip fracture and broken tibia. Her 2-year-old daughter was treated for a liver laceration, pulmonary contusion and adrenal hematoma. Neither child was secured in an appropriate car seat.

Alli’s 21-year-old passenger was taken to the hospital with two broken legs, missing teeth and other injuries. The defendant was treated at the hospital for a neck fracture, fibular fracture and other injuries. The operator of the Mazda was treated at the hospital for chest pain.

The Honda’s data recorder showed the vehicle was traveling at 57 mph just prior to the collision. The posted speed limit was 25 mph.

Allia’s blood alcohol level was measured to be between .132 percent and .159 percent about an hour after the crash. That is above the legal threshold of .08 percent.

The investigation was conducted by Detective Timothy Harrington of the 102 Precinct Detective Squad with the assistance of Sergeant Robert Denig from the Highway Division Collision Investigation Squad.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Cox of the District Attorney’s Homicide Bureau is prosecuting the case with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney Abigail Neuviller, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Jonathan Selkowe, Unit Chief of the District Attorney’s Vehicular Homicide Unit and Deputy Bureau Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and John Kosinski, Bureau Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Major Crimes Shawn Clark.