Crash Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Heroin Possession, DWAI

A Rocky Point man pleaded not guilty on Wednesday after being charged the day before with heroin possession and driving while under the influence of drugs, in a crash on Route 25A in Shoreham that involved a young mother and her three-week old daughter.

Online court records show that Denis Karachopan, 24, remains held on $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond after being arraigned in Suffolk County Court, where he is due back next Wednesday.

Authorities allege that Karachopan – who was arrested last November on misdemeanor charges for reportedly possessing heroin and a hypodermic instrument – failed to maintain his lane of travel.

According to a News12 report, Suffolk Police said that Karachopan had crossed into oncoming traffic, where he struck the 23-year-old woman and her child head-on.

He was given traffic tickets for following too closely, failure to keep his lane of travel, and failure to keep right, in addition to the misdemeanor heroin possession and DWAI charges.

The status of the woman and her daughter were not immediately available, however police previously reported that the child was uninjured in the crash.