By ANTHONY BOTTA
According to detectives, Virginia Casazza Urgo, 62, of Valley Stream was riding home from her birthday party with her husband, John Urgo, 53, her sister, Linda Chapman, 53, and a friend, William Clarkin, 56, in a 2005 Chevrolet Impala driven by a cousin, Nancy Tumminello, of Elmont, shortly before 2:30 a.m. when a 2006 Mercedes driven by Sophia Santos, 20, of Albertson, plowed into Tumminello's car. Police said that Tumminello was driving south on Wantagh Avenue and attempted to make a left turn onto Hempstead Turnpike when Santos's vehicle struck hers.
Casazza Urgo was pronounced dead at the scene. The other passengers were taken to Nassau University Medical Center. Chapman and Urgo were admitted in critical condition, Chapman with internal injuries and Urgo with a broken jaw and back. Clarkin and Tumminello were treated for their injuries and released.
Santos, who was also admitted to NUMC, was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, second-degree vehicular manslaughter and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
According to police, Santos, the daughter of renowned jockey Jose Santos, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, had a blood alcohol content of .18, more than twice the legal limit. Police also said that Santos was not a licensed driver and only had a learner's permit.
Santos was arraigned in First District Court in Hempstead on Monday, and held on $1 million bond or $500,000 cash. Under a new state law that went into effect on Nov. 1, Santos can also be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide, which carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years.
According to the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, the newly defined crime applies to a driver who kills someone in a drunk or drugged driving crash and has a blood alcohol content of .18 or higher or a prior DWI conviction within the past 10 years. The law also applies if the crash causes the death of more than one person, kills one person and severely injures another, or if the offender was driving with a suspended or revoked license. At press time, the D.A.'s office had not decided whether to charge Santos with aggravated vehicular homicide.
"Pending the outcome of the investigation, the addition of elevated charges remains a distinct possibility," District Attorney Kathleen Rice said. "My heart goes out to this innocent family."
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