Uber Driver Charged In The Death Of A Teen Car

A Uber driver from New York is charged with manslaughter, after three teenage drinking passengers were suspected of letting him ride on the roof of his car.

The 24-year-old driver, Danyal Cheema, of Huntington Station, was charged with second-degree manslaughter, in the death of Ryan Mullen, 15, of Cold Spring Harbor.

Cheema is being held instead of a $ 200,000 bail as a result of his arrest Sunday. It was not known whether he had entered a plea. His lawyer, Christopher Renfroe, did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

In the incident shortly after midnight on September 23, Cheema was driving his 2010 Toyota Highlander as an Uber driver when he recovered the three teenagers in Huntington, after they'd been drinking, according to the Suffolk County Attorney's Office. .

On their way to their destination, the boys allegedly offered Cheema $ 70 and gave him $ 40 if he let them get on the roof of the car at an intersection to be able to "surf" when the vehicle took off, revealed investigation. .

Mullen and a second teenager then stayed on the roof while Cheema was driving along Cove Road, the third boy recording them in a Snapchat video.

The fall of Mullen resulted in head trauma "which resulted in his death," according to the prosecutor's office. Although Cheema brought the three boys to their destination in a house in Huntington, Mullen "succumbed later in the night to his injuries," the prosecutor's office said.

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"It was an incredibly bad decision on the part of the defendant and a bad decision by the boys involved," District Attorney Timothy Sini said in a press release. "But at the end of the day, this accused is an adult who was hired to bring these boys home safely, but he failed to do so."

"We have a culture where the mentality is:" How can we surpass ourselves? "Especially among the youth of social networks, and we often see the tragic consequences," said Sini. "A lot of young people think they are invincible and that's something we have to keep constantly on our heads: it could happen to anyone if you engage in this kind of behavior."

He added: "Nowadays, we often encourage people to use ridesharing services because it is a safe alternative to alcohol. These boys did that; they were drinking that night and they made the right decision to use a car service. "

"Unfortunately, the defendant took a reckless decision and engaged in reckless driving resulting in the death of a young boy, and he will be held responsible," Sini said.

In his obituary, Ryan was remembered as a "loving son" and a "fierce friend".

He "lived such a long life and his stay here was short," his family wrote. "God had other plans."

Cheema faces five to fifteen years in prison if he is found guilty of manslaughter. He must appear in court on Friday.