Latest news with #LopezSantiago
CBS News
10 hours ago
- CBS News
Spring Valley, N.Y. man arraigned for crash that killed 4-year-old girl on sidewalk with family
The man arrested for a fatal crash in Spring Valley, New York that killed a 4-year-old girl and severely injured three of her family members pleaded not guilty at his arraignment. Axel Lopez-Santiago wore an orange jumpsuit to his court appearance Friday in Rockland County after being charged with DWI and aggravated vehicular homicide in the death of 4-year-old Goldy Eisenbach. Goldy Eisenbach Eisenbach Family Police said Lopez-Santiago, 41, was drunk behind the wheel during the June 14 crash on Old Nyack Turnpike, where the girl and her family were struck on a sidewalk while leaving Kennedy Park. He suddenly veered across the double yellow line and struck at least four people before crashing into a tree, investigators said. He also faces second degree manslaughter, assault and reckless driving charges. "Insane, traumatic and horrific scene" Lopez-Santiago sat in a wheelchair as prosecutors said his blood alcohol content was .19 -- more than twice New York's legal limit -- two hours after the crash. Police said Lopez-Santiago struck four members of Yisroel Eisenbach's family, including Goldy, his daughter. "It looked literally like a bomb. I see a stroller on end, a yarmulke, the wheel of the stroller on the other end, and the car between a gate and a tree. It literally looked like a bomb and I didn't know what happened," Eisenbach's said. "EMTs showed up. They are first on the scene. There are bodies everywhere. It is an insane, traumatic and horrific scene." "He destroyed many, many, many families," said Moishe Eisenbach. 3 crash victims, including 2 children, seriously injured Three of the people struck in the crash, including two other children, survived with serious injuries. An injured adult, named Abraham, remained hospitalized in critical condition with an array of broken bones. Abraham's wife, Trana Loeffler, was on the sidewalk the night of the crash, but not struck. She said seeing the suspect in court brought her to peace. "I had to see him in cuffs to be able to get him out of my face, out of my mind, o be able to sleep better at night, because I'm so scared of him. Now I see that he is in jail and he's not getting any bail, I'm more relieved," Loeffler said. Goldy Eisenbach Eisenbach Family Eisenbach said his daughter "always wanted to be a peacemaker, always had a smile on her face, and always wanted to make others smile." "It's not easy losing a loved one, especially a tragic incident like that," he said. Lopez-Santiago is due back in court July 19. contributed to this report.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Spring Valley man indicted on further charges after sidewalk crash kills 4-year-old girl
SPRING VALLEY - Police released a detailed report this week about how a Spring Valley man plowed into a crowd of people walking on a sidewalk earlier this month, killing a 4-year-old girl and seriously injuring two others. Axel I. Lopez-Santiago, 41, has been charged with three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, one count of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault, one count of driving while intoxicated as a felony and one count of reckless driving. Lopez-Santiago is scheduled for arraignment on the indictment on Friday, June 27, before County Court Judge Djinsad Desir in the County Courthouse in New City. Lopez-Santiago has been held in the county jail since his arrest on $750,000 cash bail set after the fatal incident. He would face a maximum sentence of 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge. Lopez-Santigato is accused of recklessly driving his motor vehicle at a high rate of speed as he traveled east on Old Nyack Turnpike in Spring Valley on June 14, the Rockland District Attorney's Office said in a news release on Thursday, June 26. Lopez-Santiago's vehicle veered across the double yellow line and into the opposite lane and off the road onto the pedestrian sidewalk near the entrance to Kennedy Park, the release stated. His vehicle struck at least four people before crashing into a tree. The girl who died was the daughter of Spring Valley Village Trustee Yisroel Eisenbach. Eisenbach, formerly Spring Valley's former deputy mayor, was instrumental in a plan to refurbish Kennedy Park's play area. More on Spring Valley crash: 4-year-old Spring Valley girl killed by car while walking on sidewalk; 3 others injured A 31-year-old man and a 5-year-old boy suffered serious injuries. The police investigation revealed that Lopez-Santiago was intoxicated, authorities said. Another boy, 2, also suffered injuries. All four were taken to Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, Spring Valley police reported. The investigation was conducted by the Spring Valley Police Department, with the assistance of officers from the Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County Sheriff's Office. The case is being prosecuted by Supervising Assistant District Attorney Sharleen Bailon and Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic of the Vehicular Crimes Unit. A spate of pedestrian crashes has rattled residents of the village of Spring Valley and the town of Ramapo. More than 20 pedestrians had been hit by vehicles across Ramapo from September 2024 through April 2025, police have reported. Steve Lieberman covers government, breaking news, courts, police, and investigations. Reach him at slieberm@ Twitter: @lohudlegal. Read more articles and bio. Our local coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Spring Valley driver hit with further charges after crash kills girl
