NY man charged in crash that killed couple, baby

Julio Acevedo, 44, accused of hitting car carrying Nachman and Raizy Glauber, who were on their way to a hospital

NEW YORK (AP) — A man arrested in connection with a New York car crash that killed a rabbinical college student, his pregnant wife and their baby was charged with criminally negligent homicide and other offenses.

Julio Acevedo was arraigned Thursday night in state Supreme Court in Brooklyn and ordered held without bail. His wife and young daughter were in the courtroom along with other family members and friends.

Acevedo also was charged with three counts of assault and leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and excessive speed. Judge Stephen Antignani suspended his driver’s license.

Acevedo, 44, was accused of barreling down a Brooklyn street at 60 mph early Sunday and crashing into a hired car carrying Nachman and Raizy Glauber, who were on their way to a hospital.

The car that had been carrying them had a stop sign, though it’s unclear whether the driver stopped. The driver was knocked unconscious.

The Glaubers, both 21, died Sunday. Their son, delivered by cesarean section, died Monday.

Acevedo’s attorney, Kathleen Julian called the deaths horrendous, but said no crime was committed. “It was an accident. Accidents happen every day,” she said.

Earlier Thursday, police released a statement saying they had charged Acevedo with one count of vehicular manslaughter, among other charges.

Jonah Bruno, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, declined to say why prosecutors charged Acevedo with criminally negligent homicide rather than the manslaughter charge.

Acevedo’s next court appearance is March 13. He faces a minimum of 15 years to life in prison if convicted on the more serious charges.

The couple belonged to a close-knit ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn, which is home to the largest community of ultra-Orthodox Jews outside Israel, more than 250,000. They were members of the Satmar Hasidic sect.