Driver Convicted in Crash in Which Glaubers Were Killed

BROOKLYN

The driver in the crash two years ago in which the Glauber couple lost their lives was convicted on Thursday on nearly all charges, including manslaughter, the Brooklyn district attorney’s office announced.

While he was not accused of murder, Julio Acevedo could spend the rest of his life in prison because of an extensive crime record dating back two decades.

Acevedo, 46, was found guilty by a jury at the end of a weeklong trial in Brooklyn criminal court in the deaths of Reb Nachman and Reizy Glauber, z”l, both of whom were 21-years-old. He was found not guilty in the death of their prematurely-born baby, who was named Tanchem, and in the minor injuries sustained by the livery cab driver.

Acevedo was turning a corner in Williamsburg the day after Purim, when he crashed into the car service taking the Glaubers to the hospital. According to a witness at the trial, Acevedo calmly walked over to the car, peeked in, and then fled the scene. He turned himself to police in several days later in a Pennsylvania parking lot.

His lawyer claimed his client was not speeding or under the influence, and said the crash was an accident. But prosecutors estimated he was speeding at 70 mph.

The defendant faces up to 15 years in prison on the top count, but could face up to life in prison because of his prior criminal history.

In a rare departure, Brooklyn district attorney Kenneth Thompson came to the courthouse for the verdict.

“A beautiful innocent family lost their lives because Julio Acevedo chose to drive recklessly on the streets of Brooklyn. This was a tragedy,” Thomson said in a statement. “Almost two years later we were able to get justice.”

The tragedy shook the Jewish community, with thousands attending the double levayah.

Sentencing will take place on March 18.

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