Drunk driver who killed a tow truck driver in Queens because of a lie is indicted; the victim was remembered as a “one in a million” family man

An accused drunk driver who killed a tow truck driver on the Long Island Expressway has been charged as his former colleagues lined the street outside the Queens Courthouse in solidarity Thursday.

Denzel Porter, 28, is due to appear in the Queens Supreme Court on multiple counts including negligent homicide, manslaughter and assault on a vehicle in the October 8 death of Carlos Santiago.

Santiago, 47, was helping Rakieem Ali, 27, with his broken-down Nissan sedan on the side of the western lanes of the expressway near Woodhaven Boulevard. around 3:30 am, prosecutors said.

Meanwhile, Porter was driving a Dodge Durango speeding down LIE in the same direction. There were two female passengers in the car with him.

When Santiago was trying to connect his truck to a faulty Nissan, prosecutors said Porter lost control and crashed into a silver Volkswagen SUV being driven by 66-year-old Peter Park.

Porter and Park’s cars tipped onto the disabled Nissan in the shoulder, which hit Santiago and Ali, they added.

The impact sent Santiago flying towards the service road. He suffered a serious injury to his lower body, including the loss of a leg.

Both he and Ali were taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where Santiago died. The young man survived after extensive operations.

Porter, his passengers and the driver of the Volkswagen were treated at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital for minor injuries.

Police later determined that Porter was drunk at the wheel.

“There is nothing more selfish than drunk driving and driving,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “Everyone with whom we share the road deserves our respect and attention and has every right to safely reach their destination.”

At Porter’s indictment hearing Thursday morning, dozens of tow truck drivers parked outside the Queens Criminal Court, including friends of Santiago still mourning the man.

“There are not enough words to say about him,” Gasper La Rosa, 57, said. “Always there, a great family man, children. He was just one in a million. Great guy in every way.”

La Rosa, a tow truck driver at Sonny’s Collision in Ozone Park, launched the Tow Trucks for Kids of NYC project about seven years ago. The Foundation works primarily with children with special needs on holidays and birthdays.

“We have a whole bunch of tow trucks and we drive to their house with lights, sirens and drop toys,” La Rosa said. “[Santiago] was definitely a big part of it. He is missing.”

La Rosa spoke to Santiago the day before he died.

“Then four months ago I got the phone call you never wanted to hear,” he recalled. “The way he died, I can’t even talk about it. It was so overwhelming.”

Santiago from Howard Beach was the father of three children. Before his death, he worked for Knights Towing.

“He’s old-fashioned,” La Rosa said of the man. “Respect, morality, family.”

If found guilty, Porter of Laurelton, Queens could face up to seven years behind bars, prosecutors said.

“I hope we get justice,” La Rosa said. “We won’t stop until we get justice.”