A Brooklyn man has been charged in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that occurred in East Williamsburg in February. Gregory Ventura, 35, surrendered to authorities Monday morning and was arraigned on charges including criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of a fatal accident, reckless driving, and unsafe lane movement. Ventura faces charges for striking Joshua Germain, 31, who died after being hit while crossing Vandervoort Avenue near Maspeth Avenue around 12:15 a.m. on February 15.
According to police, Germain was walking northbound in the southbound lane, attempting to maneuver around slow-moving vehicles when Ventura, driving a Nissan Murano, struck him. Germain suffered a severe head injury after hitting the pavement and was transported to Elmhurst Hospital Center. He passed away five days later on February 20, coincidentally his father’s birthday.
Family members described Germain as a devoted father to his 4-year-old son. His father, Jean Germain, said Joshua was actively involved in his son’s life, attending school events and sports games regularly. Just a week before his death, Joshua had attended a school party with his son. The loss has been deeply felt by the family, with Germain’s mother, Kertilde, describing the emotional and physical toll she has endured since the tragedy, including undergoing heart surgery for congestive heart failure related to the stress.
Investigators traced Ventura’s vehicle months after the crash through license plate readers, ultimately locating the damaged SUV at a repair shop in Mundelein, Illinois. Ventura, who works as a vehicle transporter and has done previous business in Illinois, left the vehicle there for repairs. Authorities obtained a warrant to seize and return the car to New York as evidence.
Ventura has a prior marijuana possession arrest from 2016; other earlier arrests remain sealed. He was also reported to be a domestic assault victim in 2024. His attorney, Jeffrey Chabrowe, described Ventura as a hard-working man with no criminal record related to this incident, stating that Ventura surrendered voluntarily and intends to contest the charges.
During Monday’s arraignment at Brooklyn Supreme Court, prosecutors did not seek bail, citing Ventura’s voluntary surrender. He was granted supervised release by Justice Danny Chun and is scheduled to appear in court again on August 18.
The victim’s family expressed the profound loss and heartbreak caused by the incident, highlighting the challenges faced by Joshua’s young son, who is said to understand that his father will not return. Germain’s mother emphasized the lasting impact of the tragedy on the family and questioned how Ventura could leave the scene without offering assistance.