CORONA, Queens (WABC) — Family, friends and community members gathered on Saturday morning to honor a young man killed in a deadly car crash in Queens.
A street renaming ceremony was held at the corner of 107th Street and Northern Boulevard in honor of 23-year-old Justin Diaz.
The street is being renamed to “Justin Diaz Way.”
The 23-year-old died after prosecutors say former firefighter Michael Peña was allegedly drunk and high when he sped through a red light and slammed into Diaz’s car in February.
In April, Peña pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and DWI charges.
Officials say the 23-year-old was just a block-and-a-half from his family’s home on his way to an early morning shift at LaGuardia Airport during the time of the crash.
Diaz had just graduated from Vaughn College with a degree in aeronautics, and loved ones say he had a passion for aviation. Diaz received his college degree in the mail on the day on his wake.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Ex-firefighter accused of DWI, speeding in fatal crash sent to jail
Anthony Carlo reports from outside Queens Criminal Court.
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