Drunk driver sentenced for crash that killed Lockport woman
The 25-year-old driver charged following a February crash on Transit Road in Cheektowaga that killed a Lockport woman has been sentenced to prison.
Alondra L. Ramirez-Santiago, 25, of Cheektowaga was sentenced Monday before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to 40 months to 10 years in prison and an indefinite license revocation.
The crash occurred about 9 p.m. Feb. 26 with police responding to a two-vehicle collision on the 6300 block of Transit Road between Cloverleaf Drive and Rehm Road. Ramirez-Santiago was driving south on Transit Road when she caused the crash withthe other vehicle. Ramirez-Santiago, who was under the influence of alcohol, was recklessly operating a vehicle at a high-rate of speed without the headlights illuminated when the collision occurred, according to police.
The driver and the passenger of the other vehicle were taken by ambulance to ECMC. The driver, 51-year-old Jennifer Hylkema of Lockport, died at the hospital. The passenger, her son, was treated and released from the hospital. Ramirez-Santiago was also taken by ambulance to ECMC where she was treated for injuries.
Ramirez-Santiago pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide (Class "B" felony) and one count of second-degree vehicular manslaughter (Class "D" felony). She pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment on July 24.
Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended Lieutenant David Vogel and Officer Shane Rogers of the Cheektowaga Police Department, the Cheektowaga Police Department Accident Investigation Unit and the Lancaster Police Department for their work in this investigation.
