An Amityville man was indicted after prosecutors said he drove 80 mph while impaired by marijuana and alcohol before crashing into a tree on the Southern State Parkway, killing the 23-year-old mother of his infant child.
Justin Osorio, 24, pleaded not guilty Thursday, July 2, to manslaughter, assault and other charges stemming from the April 5 crash near Exit 19N in Hempstead.
Osorio was remanded following his arraignment before Judge Joseph Girardi. He is scheduled to return to court July 17 and faces up to seven to 15 years in prison if convicted.
According to the indictment, Osorio was driving a 2008 Ford Escape eastbound on the Southern State Parkway shortly before 5:34 a.m.
Cindy Granados-Vigil, 23, was sitting in the front passenger seat, while Osorio’s 20-year-old cousin was seated in the rear middle seat.
Osorio and Granados-Vigil were living together in Amityville with their 9-month-old child at the time of the crash, prosecutors said.
Investigators allege Osorio was traveling about 80 mph in the left lane, 25 mph above the parkway’s posted speed limit.
As the vehicle approached a curve, Osorio allegedly continued straight, crossed both travel lanes and entered a wooded area off the right shoulder before striking a tree.
Granados-Vigil died from blunt-force trauma. The rear passenger suffered neck and back injuries.
Osorio sustained a spinal cord injury and underwent surgery at Nassau University Medical Center.
The investigation determined that Osorio was allegedly under the combined influence of marijuana and alcohol and did not have a driver’s license. A hospital blood test showed a high level of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, an active component of cannabis that can impair drivers, prosecutors said.
New York State Police arrested Osorio on the day of the crash.
He was indicted on charges of second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, third-degree assault, operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, driving while ability impaired by the combined influence of alcohol and drugs, and reckless driving.
Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said the alleged decisions made before and during the crash left the couple’s daughter without her mother and could result in Osorio spending years in prison.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney James Taglienti of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes Bureau.
The charges are accusations, and Osorio is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
