Shirley NY
8-26-2023 8:53am

"A woman is facing accusations of striking and causing injury to a bicyclist during a triathlon on Long Island."

In Shirley, Long Island, a court appearance took place on Friday for Ramona Jakeline Figueroa-Lopez, 29, who is alleged to have struck a triathlete during a race while riding a bike.

She is now confronted with charges including reckless driving, aggravated unlicensed vehicle operation, and driving without a court-ordered interlock device.

According to Suffolk County police, the collision occurred on August 6 along a race course in Shirley.

Prosecutors claim that Figueroa-Lopez was trying to exit a parking lot while the vicinity was shut down for the Smith Point Triathlon.

That's when authorities state she entered the race route at a significant speed and collided with the triathlete while they were in the cycling segment of the race.

Salvatore Gomez, a 43-year-old cyclist residing in Selden, was transported to the hospital due to severe injuries. As a father of two, he sustained critical damage, including a traumatic brain injury, from the incident.

His wife, Jill Gomez, provided an account of his condition, mentioning that along with spinal fractures and broken bones, he is currently experiencing cognitive impairment and significant memory loss.

Jill Gomez commented, "No one deserves this, but he certainly doesn't deserve any involvement in this situation."

Figueroa-Lopez's defense attorney remarked that he's uncertain about the accuracy of the narrative provided by the prosecutors.

"From my end, all I can share is that this was an accident, and she deeply regrets the injuries. Her thoughts and prayers are with the family," mentioned defense attorney Michael Brown.

Many of Gomez's supporters, including fellow racers, were present at Friday's court hearing, hoping to find answers about their friend's situation.

"Sal is an incredible teammate, a devoted family man with two kids. He even donated a kidney to one of them," shared Bob Haughn, a close friend.

Back in July 2021, Figueroa-Lopez was previously arrested for driving while intoxicated, and her vehicle had an interlock device that wasn’t working. However, her attorney believes that this charge will probably be dismissed.

"I'm confident because that should have been removed from motor vehicle over a year ago," Brown said confidently.

Gomez's fellow racers continue to have numerous inquiries about the woman, who works as a bartender and is presently confronting a reckless driving charge.

"This woman hits him, works at a bar, was convicted of DWI, and she's walking free and she's going back to her job," expressed supporter Julie Michels.

They emphasize that the broader concern is bicycle safety in general, hoping that this case brings greater attention to the issue.

"I can't help but think it could have been any of us that day, and that's what's truly frightening," supporter Amanda Ciolino shared.

Figueroa-Lopez was released without bail, and her next court appearance is scheduled for September 22nd.

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