HERO’S BATTLE
Qns. angel fights for life as beer-drinking driver is freed
A motorist accused of speeding with an open can of beer before a crash that nearly killed a Queens mom making food deliveries for a coronavirus charity was released without bail Thursday and ordered not to drive anywhere in the state.
Luis Encalada told cops after Wednesday’s crash that he drank three beers and was driving without a license when his Honda sedan plowed into the back of an SUV along Northern Blvd., pinning Nancy Tituaña between the two vehicles.
Tituaña, 35, was delivering food for Brigada de Esperanza NY, a food charity she launched to help people affected by coronavirus, when Encalada’s out-ofcontrol car struck her. The mother of three was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital Center in critical condition, leaving canned goods and produce scattered on the ground.
Authorities said Encalada had three times the legal limit of booze in his system when he crashed and an open can of Coors Light was visible in his car’s cup holder.
A member of the Brigada board, Alex Bautista, said Tituaña had a six-hour operation Wednesday followed by a five-hour operation Thursday.
“She was intubated, but she raised her hand and waved,” Bautista said of his hospital visit with the brave victim.
Bautista said Tituaña is a committed community servant.
“She called a few people and asked if we would like to be part of the Brigada,”
Bautista said. “Since then she has been working every day delivering food and taking care of the community.”
Tituaña’s three children still live in her native Ecuador. She lost her job as an Avon salesperson when the pandemic hit.
“I realized that so many people were suffering. And I wanted to do something to help,” she said in a video posted on the city comptroller’s Twitter feed. “So I started an organization to deliver food to people in need . ... I want my children to know how important it is to help others.”
During Encalada’s arraignment in Queens Criminal Court Thursday, Judge Danielle Hartman said she was unable to keep him in jail to await trial on vehicular assault and driving while intoxicated charges because of bail reforms enacted earlier this year.
“I’m legally obligated to release him, and that’s what the court will do,” Hartman said.
Encalada was given a restraining order barring him from any contact with the victim. He is scheduled to return to court Sept. 30.