You are reading

Man Pleads Guilty In Hit-And-Run of Sunnyside Chinese Deliveryman

Photo: iStock

Jan. 23, 2011 Staff Report

A drunk driver who killed a deliveryman for a Sunnyside Chinese restaurant last year pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter on Wednesday.

Richard Contreras, 29, of Long Island City, admitted that he was drunk when he struck down and killed Jianqui Chen, 52, who was riding his scooter for Ten Full Chinese Food, located at 39-49 48th Avenue. The incident occurred at the intersection of 39th Place and the Queens Midtown Expressway.

Contreras, who was driving a 2004 black Ford Explorer, fled the scene. The police quickly located him at the intersection of Greenpoint and Bradley Avenues.

The police observed that he had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and slurred speech. They administered an intoxilyzer test which registered he had a blood alcohol content reading of .195 percent – which is over the legal limit of .08 percent in New York.

Contreras pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular manslaughter before Queens Supreme Court Justice Dorothy Chin-Brandt, who indicated that she would sentence him to a term of 3 1/3 years to 10 years in state prison at sentencing on March 1, 2011.

“The defendant has admitted his guilt to a terrible and tragic crime… that resulted in the untimely death of a hardworking man who came to America with his wife for a better life,” said Queens District Attorney Richard Brown.

email the author: news@queenspost.com

8 Comments

Click for Comments 
sarah

This guy is a piece of shit, was never anything and will never be anything. He should get way more than 3 1/2 yrs in jail.

Reply
Disgusted Resident

The courts are a joke!!!!!!!!!!!! and this man still drinks!!!!! (yeah right he has guilt) he’s 29 and at 33-34 he will be free to start his life over and that poor family will never see their loved one again! The courts didnt do their job but karma will!!

Reply
Bonesman

It’s a tragic shame that an innocent man had to die over someones negligence. I try to comprehend and have faith in our judicial system but sometimes it leaves me wondering. An individual can serve more time for robbery felony b or a and 3 1/2 to 10, for taking someones life? These individuals who care for nothing and live in a selfish manor should just stay put in prison.

Reply
sunnysider

Great reporting by this web site. It may take time to apprehend the criminals but with your follow up stories it nice to know that justice prevails. congradulations on a job well done

Reply

Leave a Comment
Reply to this Comment

All comments are subject to moderation before being posted.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Recent News

Fall fun in western Queens: Your guide to the best seasonal events

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

With beach days and summer BBQs behind us, the start of September rings in the start of magnificent Fall foliage, Halloween and more fun activities that come with the start of Autumn, including a list of Fall events in the area. From apple picking to seasonal ciders and more, there is tons to explore in the community. From Mystic Markets to scary movie meet-ups and more, here is a list of Fall events you do not want to miss.

A hidden gem in Sunnyside: Bistro Punta Sal blends Peruvian and Italian flavors

Aug. 29, 2025 By Jessica Militello

On a quiet street in Sunnyside, Bistro Punta Sal has its French doors wide open, letting the late August breeze emanate throughout the space, which is ornate with flowers, paintings and an array of tables and chairs for intimate dinners with friends or a romantic date night. The cozy restaurant, located at 45-51 46th St., is a hidden gem in the neighborhood that is just waiting to be discovered, as the sights and aromas of the restaurant invite guests in. 

Queens Together launches ‘Unofficial US Open Dining Guide’ encouraging fans to sample restaurants along the 7 line

Aug. 20, 2025 By Shane O’Brien

The US Open returns to Flushing Meadows Corona Park this Sunday, with more than 1 million attendees anticipated to take mass transit to the iconic annual tennis event. With hundreds of thousands of fans set to take the 7 out to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, there is a world of delicious local eateries lying beneath the elevated train tracks should any fan wish to stop en-route to the US Open.