Man charged in crash that killed construction worker on Upper Manhattan bridge

Upper Manhattan Bridge Fatal Crash: SUV Driver Charged with Reckless Driving After Turning Himself In

A devastating accident on the Washington Bridge last August claimed the life of 41-year-old Herb Henry Alesna, a Maspeth resident who was tragically struck and killed by a reckless driver. Jesus Juarez, 36, turned himself in to police Tuesday, marking a long-awaited moment of accountability for his actions.

According to authorities, Juarez's Dodge Durango SUV collided with another vehicle on the bridge around 10:30 p.m., changing lanes and ultimately striking a parked construction truck, which was standing alongside it. Alesna, who had been working on site, suffered fatal injuries from the impact and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Surprisingly, both drivers involved in the crash – Juarez and the Toyota Highlander SUV's driver – cooperated with police, remaining at the scene without reporting any injuries. However, no arrests were made at that time.

Now facing charges, Juarez is accused of reckless driving, failing to yield to a pedestrian, and neglecting his duty to exercise due care. Following an over a year-long investigation by the NYPD, Juarez was taken into custody in the 5th Precinct and granted supervised release pending his next court date.

His lawyer, Julie Rendelman, explained that Juarez surrendered himself with legal representation after police requested it. When asked about the incident, Rendelman stated that her client's behavior "was a tragic accident" and expressed remorse for his role in Alesna's death.

The fact that Juarez is facing charges nearly a year after the fatal crash has raised questions about the NYPD's investigation process and how long it took to identify him as responsible for the incident. The case highlights the need for swift accountability in such incidents, ensuring justice for victims and their families.

As authorities continue to gather more information on this developing story, one thing is clear: reckless driving has no place on our roads, and those found guilty must be held accountable for their actions.

OMG, I'm so relieved that Jesus Juarez turned himself in , it's about time he took responsibility for his actions! I mean, 41-year-old Herb Henry Alesna was just minding his own biz on the bridge when suddenly this SUV comes out of nowhere... . The fact that both drivers were cooperative is definitely a plus, but I guess you can't expect everyone to be as lucky as them .

I'm all for swift accountability, though! It's crazy how long it took for authorities to pin it on Juarez . Reckless driving is just not okay, and I'm glad his lawyer acknowledges that . Now let's hope the justice system does its job and gives him a fair shake... .

OMG what a close call like how the police were able to track him down after all that time I feel so bad for Herb Henry Alesna's family he didn't deserve to die and yeah it's about time Juarez faced charges this is one case where justice should take precedence over anything else let's hope the punishment fits the crime too

This whole thing just gives me the chills... 41-year-old Herb Henry Alesna's life was cut short because of some dude turning himself in a year later? What kind of justice is that?! I mean, I know accidents happen, but this guy could've gotten away with it if not for his own conscience or the police catching up. It's like, how many more lives have to be lost on our roads because people think they can just do whatever they want and avoid accountability? The fact that the drivers involved cooperated is a good start, but it's too little, too late for Herb's family... RIP, dude

I'm so sorry to hear about Herb Henry Alesna's tragic passing . It's heartbreaking that someone lost their life due to another person's reckless behavior on the road. I think this case is a perfect example of how swift accountability can bring closure to families and victims. One year is too long to wait for justice, especially when it comes to something as preventable as reckless driving . It's great that Juarez turned himself in, but we need to make sure our authorities are doing everything they can to ensure such incidents don't happen again . We all have a responsibility to be safe on the roads, and this case should serve as a reminder that one wrong move can have devastating consequences .

This guy's been dodging justice for over a year? It's just so frustrating! Like, how hard is it to take responsibility for your actions when you know you're at fault? And the fact that he was able to turn himself in now, with a lawyer by his side...it just feels like he's getting off easy. I mean, what about Herb Henry Alesna's family? Have they gotten any justice yet? It's just not fair that it took this long to get charges filed against Juarez. The NYPD should be ashamed of themselves for dragging out the investigation like that. Reckless driving is a serious offense and people need to be held accountable for it, ASAP!

I cant believe it took them over a year to catch the guy! Like, what's taking so long? Shouldn't they have had enough evidence by now? I'm not saying Juarez didn't do it or anything, but some ppl just dont take responsibility for their own mistakes... anywayz, glad he turned himself in and all, but still. It feels like justice is only served when someone's family gets involved or somethin. We need to make sure those who break the law get held accountable ASAP!

I'm shocked that it took over a year for the police to figure out who was responsible for this accident It's like, you'd think they would've caught someone by now. I just want justice for Herb Henry Alesna and his family This reckless driving is crazy And I don't get why it took so long to bring the guy to justice Can we please just make sure that if something like this happens again, we're gonna catch whoever did it ASAP?

That's so sad about Herb Henry Alesna... I feel for his family and loved ones. It's crazy that it took over a year to catch the driver, though. I hope Jesus Juarez is doing okay and not taking this too hard on himself. He did turn himself in after all, so that's gotta be some kind of credit? And yeah, reckless driving is just so senseless... it's like, come on, folks! We're all sharing the roads together, let's look out for each other!

My heart goes out to Herb's family ... 41 years old taken away from us way too soon... can't imagine the pain they're going through right now. It's crazy that it took over a year for Juarez to turn himself in, I feel like so many people are left wondering and worried about what happened to Herb. And yes, reckless driving is just unacceptable ... poor Herb didn't stand a chance. Hope the justice system can move quickly enough to bring some closure to his loved ones

I'm so frustrated with how slow the police investigation was in this case! A year is just too long to wait for justice. It's like they're more focused on clearing the driver than making sure he faces consequences for his reckless driving. And what's up with the fact that both drivers involved cooperated? Shouldn't we be worried about their involvement too?! This whole situation is still super suspicious to me...

I'm still reeling from the fact that it's been over a year since this accident happened . I mean, I get that the police had to follow procedure and all, but it just seems like common sense would have kicked in sooner. Like, how hard is it to identify a suspect after you've got witnesses, CCTV footage, and all that? It's frustrating when you think about Herb Henry Alesna's family having to wait so long for justice. And now Juarez has turned himself in, which is good, but I still can't help feeling like there should have been more done sooner . Maybe this will bring some changes to the NYPD's investigation process, and that would be a step in the right direction .

i just cant believe it took them so long to catch the guy! 1 whole year is way too long to wait for justice. its like he thought he was above the law or something. and now hes facing charges but im not sure if that even feels fair after everything that happened. his lawyer says it was a tragic accident but come on, accidents dont kill people! this case just makes me so frustrated.

It's a sobering reminder that our actions have consequences . I mean, can you imagine the weight of regret that must've been crushing Jesus Juarez's conscience all this time? He could've just kept running from his mistakes and never faced the music, but instead, he chose to own up to it. That takes a lot of courage, don't you think?

It's also a wake-up call for us as drivers on the road. We're not invincible, and we need to be more mindful of our surroundings at all times. It's not just about getting from point A to point B; it's about being responsible members of society.

The fact that Juarez is facing charges now suggests that justice is finally being served . And let's not forget the family of Herb Henry Alesna, who'll be forever changed by this tragedy. May we all learn from his loss and strive to do better on our own roads

man i cant believe its been a year since that accident happened the fact that the driver turned himself in now is kinda satisfying but like what took so long to figure out who was responsible? NYPD should get some new blood on that investigation team, it's just too slow. and btw, reckless driving is literally no joke Alesna's family deserves justice ASAP, hopefully Juarez gets the max sentence for his actions