QUEENS, N.Y. — A 23-year-old man from Richmond Hill was sentenced to seven to 21 years in prison for a drunk driving crash that claimed the lives of two South Ozone Park neighbors in June 2023. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced the sentencing of Tamir Khan, who pleaded guilty in July to aggravated vehicular homicide in connection with the deaths of Inderdeo John, 64, and Charles Harris, 71.
Khan’s reckless actions led to the fatal collision on June 5, 2023, when he sped through a stop sign at the intersection of 117th Street and 111th Avenue in Richmond Hill, slamming into the victims’ car. John had been driving Harris to his job as a custodian at a nearby school when the crash occurred.
“The reckless and selfish behavior of the defendant, who chose to get behind the wheel after drinking, cost two men their lives and left a wide circle of family and friends heartbroken,” said DA Katz. “This is yet one more example of a preventable tragedy caused by drunk driving.”
The collision caused John’s vehicle, a 2001 Toyota Camry, to spin into a utility pole. John was pronounced dead at a local hospital later that morning, and Harris succumbed to his injuries the following day.
Khan, who fled the scene but returned 30 minutes later and admitted to driving, was found to have a blood alcohol content of .09 percent, above the legal limit. Additionally, the Audi Khan was driving had illegal window tints, with a light transmittance well below the legal requirement.
Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise handed down the sentence, concluding the case.
