Story by Ethan
On April 23rd, 2026, the arrest of Michael Bonner, age 40, was announced by Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnely. Michael Bonner was charged with Leaving the Scene of an Incident Without Reporting Resulting in Death as a D felony, Tampering with Physical Evidence as an E felony, and multiple traffic infractions. The arrest and charges against Michael Bonner were a result of an investigation handled by the Nassau County Police Department, the Hempstead Police Department, the Freeport Police Department, and the Garden City Police Department.
According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, at approximately 8:00 p.m. on March 25th, 2026, 66-year-old Narcizo de Jesus Guerra Lopez was walking in the crosswalk at the intersection of East Merrick Road and South Main Street in Freeport, New York. At this time Michael Bonner was driving his 2001 Chevrolet Suburban in the area when he struck Narcizo de Jesus Guerra Lopez. Instead of stopping to report the incident, the defendant then allegedly continued driving eastbound on East Merrick Road. The victim was transported to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital to receive emergency surgery, however he unfortunately passed away from his injuries on April 3rd, 2026. The Nassau County Police Department initiated an investigation, including reviewing surveillance footage of the area. It was uncovered that at approximately 7:57 p.m. on the date in question Michael Bonner was seen entering the driver’s side of a vehicle bearing a distinctive red windshield sticker and white foam above the rear passenger side tire. These markings were the same ones bore on the defendant’s vehicle at the time of the crash. Surveillance footage also showed Michael Bonner’s vehicle at a 7-Eleven convenience store on Sunrise Highway approximately half a mile from the crash site. It’s alleged that the defendant entered and exited the store approximately four minutes before the crash occurred. Cell phone data recovered by detectives also placed Michael Bonner at the scene of the hit-and-run when it occurred. Following the collision Michael Bonner removed the red windshield sticker from his vehicle and traveled south towards the Carolinas on March 28th, 2026, before driving back to New York. The defendant was located and apprehended in Nassau County after being pulled over by Hempstead Police Department officers on April 4th, 2026.
The Nassau County District Attorney’s Office stated that the charges against Michael Bonner are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
