White Plains firefighter in deadly wrong-way crash arraigned

WHITE PLAINS (WABC) -- A firefighter charged with vehicular manslaughter and DWI for a deadly wrong way crash in Westchester County was arraigned Monday on a grand jury indictment.

Erik Refvik was arraigned on a 16 count that includes charges of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Vehicular Assault in the First Degree, and Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated.

47-year old Reyda LaMadrid, who was delivering newspapers with her husband, was killed in the Nov. 3, 2014 crash.

The driver of the other vehicle, 49-year-old Edgar Lopez, suffered serious injuries.

"This defendant, in a city that he both lived and worked, as alleged in the indictment, operated his car in such an intoxicated and impaired condition that he drove down a major thoroughfare, South Lexington Avenue, in the wrong direction for more than a third of a mile before crashing head-on into the victim's vehicle. No less troubling, was the fact that before the collision, this defendant spent the previous 12 hours on a drinking odyssey, enabled throughout, by the fact that only one of the at least four bars he patronized refused to serve him," said Westchester District Attorney Janet DiFiore.

Prosecutors said Refvik was driving his Chevrolet Tahoe about 65 miles an hour at 4:30 a.m. when he collided with a Honda Civic waiting at a traffic light.

According to prosecutors, he was seen on video drinking at at least four bars on Mamoroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains in the nearly 12 hours before the collision.

At the time of the collision, experts put the defendant's blood alcohol content at .21, more than 2 1/2 times the legal limit, the DA said, adding that he had a cocktail of exacerbating substances in his system which consisted of cocaine, clonazepam, and bath salts.

Bail was increased to $50,000.

Refvik is now getting therapy, and living with his family for support and guidance, according to his attorney, Andrew Quinn.

"He's deeply remorseful, deeply concerned," said Quinn. "He deeply regrets any actions that led to the death of the other driver."

Authorities say it's not the first time Refvik has gotten behind the wheel when he shouldn't have. In 2003, he pleaded guilty to DWI after he was found to be nearly three times the legal limit.

Refvik has been suspended without pay.

In a statement, Refvik said, "I am devastated by the death of Ms. Reyda LaMadrid and the injuries suffered by her husband, Edgar Lopez. I am also profoundly sorry for the pain that their two children and many loved ones are experiencing. I understand that my actions must be judged through the criminal justice system. Until that process is complete, at my attorney's instruction, I will have no further comment."