NEW CITY, N.Y. – District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II announced that Axel I. Lopez-Santiago, 42, of Spring Valley, New York, pleaded guilty to three counts of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, one count of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, one count of Driving While Intoxicated as a Felony, and one count of reckless driving, before the Honorable Kevin Russo.
The defendant was remanded to the Rockland County Jail without bail; sentencing is scheduled for February 18, 2026.
On June 14, 2025, the defendant drove his vehicle recklessly at a high rate of speed while traveling east on Old Nyack Turnpike in Spring Valley, New York.
The defendant’s vehicle suddenly crossed over the double yellow line into the opposite lane of travel, then continued off the roadway and onto the pedestrian sidewalk as he approached the entrance to Kennedy Park. The vehicle struck at least four individuals before crashing into a tree. When law enforcement arrived, the defendant was found behind the wheel as the sole occupant of the car.
All victims were transported to local hospitals. One victim, a four-year-old female, died from her injuries. Two other victims, a 31-year-old male and a five-year-old male, sustained serious physical injuries. The investigation revealed that the defendant was intoxicated from consuming alcoholic beverages at the time of the fatal collision.
The District Attorney’s Office recommended 8 1/3 to 25 years in prison on the Aggravated Vehicular Homicide counts (concurrent with each other, consecutive to the Assault in the Second Degree Counts, and concurrent with all other counts); 5 to 15 years in prison on the Manslaughter in the Second Degree count (concurrent with all other counts); 7 years in prison on the Assault in the Second Degree counts (consecutive with each other and one of the Aggravated Vehicular Homicide counts, concurrent with all other counts); 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison on the Driving While Intoxicated as a Felony count (concurrent with all other counts) and 1 year in jail on the Reckless Driving count (concurrent with all other counts).
Hon. Kevin F. Russo promised the defendant 4 to 12 years in prison on each count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and Manslaughter in the Second Degree (to run concurrent to each other and all other charges); 6 years in prison on each count of Assault in the Second Degree (to run consecutive with each other, but concurrent with all other charges); 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison on Driving While Intoxicated as a Felony (to run concurrent with all other charges); and 364 days in jail on the Reckless Driving charge (to run concurrent with all other charges).
“We pushed for a sentence that reflected the gravity of the severe harm done to our community, and the court chose to give the defendant less,” said District Attorney Walsh. “My Office will continue to demand real consequences for those who destroy lives through reckless, repeated intoxicated driving.”
The investigation was conducted by the Spring Valley Police Department, with the assistance of officers from Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Dominic A. Crispino, Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic and Supervising Assistant District Attorney Sharleen Bailon of the Vehicular Crimes Unit.
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Respectfully,
Emily Klinkenborg
Coordinator of Public Relations
Rockland County District Attorney’s Office
One South Main Street
New City, New York 10956
O: (845) 638-5080
C: (845) 825-5650