Edwin Cruz Gomez, of Uniondale, charged with driving SUV into group, killing girl, 16, authorities say

A Uniondale man subjected a 16-year-old girl and her mother to "crude sexual solicitations and harassment," then intentionally drove his SUV onto a sidewalk and into the group they were with, killing the teen, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said.

Edwin Cruz Gomez, 38, was outside a restaurant early Saturday under the elevated subway line on Roosevelt Avenue near the intersection of Elmhurst Avenue when he allegedly attempted to solicit Jhoanny Alvarez, 16, and her mother, offering them money for sex acts — only to be confronted by the teen's stepfather and boyfriend, the district attorney's office said.

A "verbal dispute ensued and then escalated into a physical altercation" between the stepfather and Cruz Gomez before bystanders intervened to separate the two men, according to the district attorney. Cruz Gomez then got into his vehicle, a Chevrolet Suburban, which had been double-parked on Roosevelt, and made a right turn onto nearby Benham Street, where he allegedly drove onto the sidewalk and aimed the SUV at the group of four, authorities said.

"Gomez allegedly struck" the teen, pinning her against a utility pole, and also hit the girl's mother and stepfather, the district attorney's office said.

The suspect then reversed the vehicle down Benham Street and crashed into an unoccupied van before fleeing on foot, according to the district attorney's office.

The incident occurred just after 4 a.m. Saturday in Elmhurst, Queens.

Authorities said the teenage girl died at the scene; her mother was transported to a hospital for treatment of unspecified leg injuries. The district attorney's office said Cruz Gomez meanwhile approached NYPD officers "a few blocks" from the scene to tell them he'd been "assaulted" — eventually leading them back to the crash scene. Authorities said the investigation by detectives from the NYPD's 110th Precinct determined Cruz Gomez had a blood alcohol content of 0.137, above the legal limit of 0.08 %.

Cruz Gomez was arraigned Sunday in Queens, charged with murder, attempted murder, assault, vehicular manslaughter and other charges, among them driving while intoxicated. Court records show Cruz Gomez pleaded not guilty and was remanded without bail.

Court records also show his license was ordered suspended pending prosecution. He is due back in court on Friday.

The attorney of record for Cruz Gomez could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”