NY drunk driver sentenced after horrific crash kills child
NEW CITY, N.Y. — A Spring Valley man will spend years behind bars after prosecutors say he drove drunk, crashed onto a sidewalk and killed a 4-year-old girl in a devastating crash near a park.
Axel I. Lopez-Santiago, 41, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison by Rockland County Court Judge Kevin F. Russo after pleading guilty to an eight-count indictment related to the fatal June 14, 2025 crash.
Authorities said Lopez-Santiago was driving recklessly and at a high rate of speed eastbound on Old Nyack Turnpike in Spring Valley when his vehicle suddenly crossed the double yellow line and veered off the road.
The car then drove onto a pedestrian sidewalk near the entrance to Kennedy Park, where it struck at least three people before slamming into a tree.
Emergency responders transported the victims to local hospitals, but a 4-year-old girl later died from her injuries.
Two other victims — a 31-year-old man and a 5-year-old boy — suffered serious injuries, prosecutors said.
Investigators determined Lopez-Santiago was intoxicated from alcohol consumption at the time of the crash. Police found him behind the wheel as the sole occupant of the vehicle when they arrived at the scene.
The judge sentenced Lopez-Santiago to two consecutive six-year prison terms for second-degree assault, along with concurrent sentences for aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, felony DWI and reckless driving.
Prosecutors noted that Lopez-Santiago had a prior drunk driving conviction in Spring Valley in 2018.
The investigation was conducted by the Spring Valley Police Department, with assistance from the Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office.
Key Points
• Spring Valley driver sentenced to 12 years for deadly drunk driving crash
• Vehicle veered onto sidewalk near Kennedy Park and struck pedestrians
• 4-year-old girl killed and two others seriously injured
• Driver had prior DWI conviction from 2018
