[StBernard] Brooklyn man arrested in connection with fatal St. Bernard crash

[Westley Annis]

Brooklyn man arrested in connection with fatal St. Bernard crash

Published: Thursday, July 21, 2011, 8:21 AM     Updated: Thursday, July 21,
2011, 8:21 AM

  By Danny Monteverde, The Times-Picayune 

A Brooklyn, N.Y., man has been arrested in the death of a Garyville man who
was killed in a crash in April, State Police said.

Michael H. Demelio, 23, was booked into the St. Bernard Parish jail
Wednesday on a count of vehicular homicide, State Police said.

Demelio is accused of fatally injuring John Ebanks Jr., 43, during an
accident April 28 at 2:10 a.m. near East St. Bernard Highway and Livaccari
Drive.

Ebanks was a passenger in a 2004 GMC Sierra driven by Demelio. For unknown
reasons, Demelio tried to use the right shoulder to pass a vehicle and hit a
roadside tree, State Police said.

Demelio suffered minor injuries in the crash, but Ebanks was critically
injured and was taken to Interim LSU Public Hospital, where he died April
30, police said.

Neither Demelio nor Ebanks was wearing seat belts. Alcohol was suspected as
a factor in the accident, State Police said.

Demelio initially was booked with DWI and reckless operation of a motor
vehicle.