Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg Jr. today announced the guilty plea of ANGEL MELENDEZ, 53, for fatally striking Nadjari Reid and injuring a pedestrian in 2024 after driving recklessly and running a red light in East Harlem. MELENDEZ pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Assault in the Third Degree and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree. He is expected to be sentenced to 4 ½ – 13 ½ years on February 24, 2026. 

“This was a horrific instance of vehicular violence, and my thoughts continue to be with Mr. Reid’s loved ones. This type of reckless driving– swerving in and out of traffic lines at high speeds – can have deadly consequences. As today’s guilty plea demonstrates, we will hold drivers accountable when they endanger public safety and harm New Yorkers.”   

As admitted in the defendant’s guilty plea and according to court documents and statements made on the record, the incident occurred on July 29, 2024, at approximately 3:40 p.m., when MELENDEZ was speeding up 1st Avenue between East 96th Street and 105th Street, veering between the left and right lanes, and swerving to narrowly avoid cars and pedestrians. He struck one woman’s shopping cart, and narrowly missed hitting her and other pedestrians along the way. 

At approximately 3:41 p.m. at the northwest corner of 1st Avenue and East 105th Street, MELENDEZ ran a steady red light and crashed into a parked motorcycle and car. The impact caused the parked car to crash into another parked car, killing 51-year-old Nadjari Reid, who was standing between the two cars at the time.

MELENDEZ also injured a second individual who was just able to get out of the way in time.

MELENDEZ’s 14-year-old son was in the car with him.

Assistant D.A. Heather Pearson (Trial Bureau 80) is handling the prosecution of this case under the supervision of Assistant D.A. Jill Hoexter (Chief of the Vehicular Crimes Unit) and Executive Assistant D.A. Lisa DelPizzo (Chief of the Trial Division).

D.A. Bragg thanked the NYPD, particularly Detective Douglas Gerber of the Highway Safety Enforcement Unit, Lieutenant Christopher Douse of Highway Patrol Unit 1, and Police Officer Thomas Collado, of the 23 Precinct.

Defendant Information:
ANGEL MELENDEZ
New York, NY

Convicted:

• Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a class C felony, one count
• Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count
• Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree, a class A misdemeanor, one count

###