Guisela Garay, of Franklin Square, charged with DWI in crash that critically injured 39-year-old man

A 24-year-old Franklin Square woman has been arrested and charged with drunken driving and related charges, after police said her car collided with another vehicle Thursday evening — leaving the other driver in critical condition.

Nassau County police said the crash took place on Franklin Avenue near Cloud Avenue at 8:52 p.m.

In an account issued Friday, police said Guisela Garay was driving a 2018 Toyota north on Franklin when her vehicle collided with a 2018 BMW that was turning west on Cloud.

Police said the 39-year-old driver of the BMW suffered "trauma to his legs and body" in the crash and was transported to a hospital in critical condition. The extent of his injuries was not clear Friday.

Police said responding officers arrested Garay following an investigation. She was charged with driving while intoxicated, first-degree vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular assault and first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation.

Garay was scheduled for arraignment Friday in First District Court in Hempstead.

It was not immediately clear if Garay was represented by counsel.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.