Mineola Man Charged with Death of School Bus Driver

A Mineola man is being charged in connection with the 2012 death of a school bus driver in Locust Valley.

According to Nassau County Police, Raymond Ragen, 44, of Mineola was operating a 2003 Oshkosh cement mixer truck eastbound on Oyster Bay Road in the vicinity of Matinecock Court at about 3:15 p.m. on July 23 when the vehicle struck a Long Island Railroad overpass.

The collision caused the truck to enter the oncoming lane of traffic and strike a 2003 Chevrolet school bus operating westbound on Oyster Bay Road carrying special-needs children. The operator of the bus, Jorge Guevara, 45 of Locust Valley, had one of his legs nearly amputated and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Five males that were aboard the bus, ages 64, 9 and three six-year olds were removed to local hospitals and treated for non life threatening injuries.

Ragen was also removed to an area hospital where he was treated and released. Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks.

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Ragen is charged with second degree manslaughter, two counts of second degree assault, three counts of third degree assault, two counts of seventh degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree reckless endangerment, driving while ability impaired by drugs in a commercial vehicle, aggravated vehicular homicide, second degree vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, first degree vehicular assault, reckless driving, third degree aggravated unlicensed operation and using a mobile phone while driving.

According to the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Regan was high on valium at the time of the accident. The district attorney’s office also stated that Regan has nine prior convictions dated over a 16-year period between 1991 and 2007, including a charge of weapons possession.

He was arraigned on Wednesday at First District Court in Hempstead. Judge Tammy Robbins set bail at $750,000 cash as well as to be monitored for drug use. He faces up to 25 years in jail if convicted. Ragen is due back in court Feb. 20.

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