Upgraded charges for Farmingdale man accused of driving drunk, killing National Guard vet from Brentwood
John Ankelman, from Farmingdale, is facing 11 charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide, in the death of Nelson Gonzalez, from Brentwood.
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Prosecutors say Ankelman drove drunk and crashed head on into the National Guard veteran's car in December.
Gonzalez died days later.
"My brother's not here. Look at him now he's up there standing and my brother is buried. We lost a father, we lost a son," said Louis Gonzalez, the victim's brother.
According to prosecutors, Ankelman had been drinking at a bar in Farmingdale on Dec. 26 and got in his car to drive.
They say it was snowing that night and Ankelman was speeding when he hit Gonzalez's car on Pinelawn Road near the LIE in Melville.
Prosecutors say Ankelman's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit at the time of the crash.
"We deny these allegations but it doesn't change the fact that those folks lost their family member. It doesn't change the fact that he was involved in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in the death of someone. So, he's saddened," said Steven Politi, Ankelman's lawyer.
Prosecutors say Ankelman has a prior conviction. They say in 2021 he was convicted of driving while ability impaired and had a restricted license after that, which only allowed him to drive under special circumstances, such as going to work or going to the doctor.
Ankelman's license is suspended.
If convicted he faces up to 25 years in jail.
The judge set bail for Ankelman at $50,000 cash.
News 12 has learned that it was posted.
