Today, Carmen Huertas was sentenced to four to 12 years for a drunk driving crash that killed an 11-year-old girl. The father of victim Leandra Rosado, whose death resulted in a new law that makes it a felony to drive while intoxicated with a passenger 15 years or younger in the car, told the judge, "My daughter is looking down at us right now... Don't let her death be in vain. I promised always to protect my daughter and I feel I failed her... Don't let us down." more ›

Last October, Carmen Huertas was driving a car packed with her daughter and her daughter's friends up the West Side Highway when she lost control and flipped the car over Besides many of the children being injured, 11-year-old Leandra Rosado died and it was discovered that Huertas' blood alcohol level was one-and-a-half times the legal limit. Now Huertas is expected to plead guilty to second-degree manslaughter today. more ›

Carmen Huertas, who, while driving drunk, fatally crashed her car on the West Side Highway, killing her daughter's friend and injured six other, is hoping for kindness from a judge. According to the Daily News, her lawyer wants the judge to let her "plead guilty to a top manslaughter charge but give her less than the 5-to-15 year prison term prosecutors are demanding." Defense lawyer Steve Rubin claims Huerta was abused by "many different individuals" in the past, "It's a whole history of who Carmen Huertas is... [That] doesn't excuse, but explains her behavior." The father of the dead girl has previously said he wants Huertas to serve at least ten years, "She took my child away - she has to pay for that." more ›

The woman who killed her daughter's friend in a drunk car crash last year has been discussing a plea with the Manhattan DA's office. According to the Post, prosecutors don't think there will be a trial for Carmen Huerta and there could be a "manslaughter plea that will cage her for anywhere from five to 15 years." If the case doesn't go to trial, then Huerta's daughter and five other girls—some were seriously injured—won't have to testify about the terrifying car ride. Lenny Rosado, whose 11-year-old daughter was killed (there's a drunk driving law named after her now), said he would be relieved if the girls didn't have to testify, but wants Huerta behind bars for at least a decade, "She took my child away - she has to pay for that." more ›

Yesterday, Carmen Huertas appeared in court for the first time since overturning her car, injuring herself and her many young passengers (including her daughter), and killing her daughter's 11-year-old friend in October. Huertas, who faces vehicular manslaughter and DWI charges, had only appeared via a video link when she was initially charged, because she was still recovering from her injuries. Her lawyer said she remains a psychiatric ward and wants to kill herself, "She's tried to place objects around her neck," adding that she's an "emotional wreck." more ›

Aggravating—the State Legislature failed to pass the bill that would make it a felony for drunk drivers to have passengers under 16. The Observer reports, "[State Senator Charles] Fuschillo and State Senator Martin Malave Dilan are standing by a bill that would make it a felony to drive with a B.A.C. of over .08 with a child in the car. A spokesman for Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said yesterday that chamber would consider (and most certainly pass) a bill where felony penalties kicked in at a BAC of .18, and kept a misdemeanor charge for anyone blowing .08 to .18." Though there was allegedly a deal, the Senate then walked away from the deal and apparently couldn't pass the original bill (felony at .08) because Paterson had to send the bill down... so now it's stalled. more ›

Governor Paterson will ask legislators to pass "Leandra's Law," which would make driving drunk with a passenger under 16 a felony. Last month, 11-year-old Leandra Rosado was killed when her friend's allegedly drunk mother crashed on the West Side Highway. Governor Paterson's spokeswoman said, "Gov. Paterson is committed to stricter penalties for drunk drivers with children in the car, which is why he introduced a program bill on this issue on Aug. 13." The Daily News notes, "Though Paterson announced the bill in August, no one in the Legislature has even introduced it." more ›

The woman who allegedly drove drunk and crashed a vehicle full of young girls on the West Side Highway—killing her daughter's 11-year-old friend—is reportedly so upset that she's on suicide watch. A sourced tells the Daily News, "The first thing she says to anyone who walks into her room is that she deserves to die. That she is going to kill herself. She's not doing well right now." more ›

So sad: The daughter of the woman who allegedly drove drunk, crashing a car full of young girls on the West Side Highway and killing one, told WCBS 2 about the horrifying crash. The 1998 Mercury Sable, which was overloaded with driver Carmen Huertas and seven girls, overturned and then crashed into a tree; Huertas' 11-year-old daughter Brittany Gonzalez said, "All three girls in the back just flew out when the trunk popped open because it just popped open when we flipped once. My friend's seatbelt snapped. Leandra Rosado just flew out and she was the one in the woods." more ›