Woman, 72, died after being hit by car in Oakdale Commons. Here's the latest case update
A Binghamton man initially charged with murder for a fatal hit-and-run car-pedestrian crash last year has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges.
Rajee Al-Mashni was originally indicted on charges of second-degree murder, second-degree manslaughter, second-degree vehicular manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident, along with 13 other related charges.
The charges stemmed from the March 2023 death of 72-year-old Elizabeth Atkinson, of Johnson City, outside the Oakdale Commons shopping center.
In Broome County Court on Jan. 11, Al-Mashni pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, driving with ability impaired by combined influence of drugs and alcohol, and second-degree attempted assault.
Al-Mashni also entered a guilty plea to second-degree attempted assault stemmingfrom a June 27, 2022 motor vehicle accident at the corner of Leroy and Chapin streets in theCity of Binghamton which left several people seriously injured.
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Around 4:20 p.m. March 6, 2023, Johnson City police officers responded to Oakdale Commons to check on the welfare of man who witnesses said was intoxicated and had entered as many as two vehicles in the parking lot, police said.
When they approached the suspect, later identified as Al-Mashni, he reportedly fled the scene, driving south at a high rate of speed.
Seconds later, Al-Mashni's vehicle struck Atkinson as she was leaving a store at the mall, police said.
After Al-Mashni pulled out of the parking lot, officers pursued him over several village streets before his car became disabled and he fled on foot before being taken into custody, according to police.
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Atkinson was taken to UHS Wilson Hospital, where she later died.
"This was a senseless tragedy caused by selfish choices," Broome County District Attorney Paul Battisti said following the plea. "Impaired driving continues to plague our streets, and far too many families like Ms. Atkinson’s are mourning the loss of loved ones who have been killed by reckless drivers."
Al-Mashni is scheduled to be sentenced April 9 in Broome County Court.
He faces an indeterminate term of five to 15 years in state prison for the plea in Atkinson's death, and an additional one to three years on the attempted assault charge related to the 2022 crash, Battisti said.
The sentences would likely be served consecutively, he said.
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Guilty plea in Oakdale Commons parking lot hit-and-run fatal crash
