A Queens man denies he was drunk when the car he was driving home from a Long Island wedding crashed, killing his mom, sister and grandfather and leaving his girlfriend in a coma, neighbors say.
And Luis Ramirez’s boss insists he doesn’t drink or do drugs.
The tragic accident occurred near Exit 51 of the Long Island Expressway Sunday night.
Ramirez, 21, of Woodhaven was driving home from a wedding reception in Hauppauge, L.I., when he got a flat because of debris from a crash in the opposite lane. As he slowed down, he was rammed from behind by a truck.
Ramirez was charged with drunken driving after a cop smelled alcohol on his breath. Tests of his blood-alcohol level have not come back.
In addition to killing three members of his family, the crash left his girlfriend, Laurie Luna, 19, in a coma because of severe head injuries.
Ramirez called her family yesterday and insisted he was not drunk when the accident occurred, said Bob Maurer, who lives upstairs from Laura.
At the Lewis of Woodhaven discount store, where Luis works as a stock clerk, owner Robert Lewis said, “Everyone got it wrong about Luis; he’s not a drinker.”
“Luis is very low key, very cooperative. He is really mature, and everybody knows he doesn’t drink or do drugs.”
Neighbors said Laurie, who is in critical condition at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, L.I., moved her hands and fingers a little yesterday, but doctors won’t know if she is out of the woods for three or four days.
Ramirez is scheduled to appear in court Friday on the DWI charges.