A South Ozone Park man has been arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated and vehicular manslaughter in the December 23 car crash in East Elmhurst that left his girlfriend dead.
According to police, Melvin Santana, 24, was turning south onto 108th Street from Astoria Boulevard at about 4:45 a.m. when his car was hit by another vehicle traveling eastbound on Astoria Boulevard.
Santana's passenger and girlfriend, Wendy Almonte, also 24, was taken to New York Hospital Queens where she was later pronounced dead.
Santana was taken into custody at the scene and charged.
“My son's not a crazy person,” said Santana's mother Daniela Beard, according to published reports.
The driver of the other vehicle, Steven Azconza, 20, of Long Island, was charged with driving with a suspended license.
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