Nov 12, 2007 9:49 pm US/Eastern
Jockey's Daughter Allegedly DWI In Fatal Wreck
Levittown Crash Killed Grandmother Celebrating 62nd Birthday
LEVITTOWN, N.Y. (CBS) ―
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Sophia Santos, 20, daughter of world-famous jockey Jose A. Santos, was accused of driving drunk and killing a 62-year-old grandmother.
CBS
The daughter of a world-famous jockey was arrested and accused of being drunk and behind the wheel in a car accident that killed a grandmother who was out celebrating her 62nd birthday.
Sophia Santos, 20, daughter of Jose Santos -- the jockey who nearly captured the Triple Crown in 2003 after riding Funny Cide to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness -- was arraigned in the death of Virginia Casazza Urgo, who died Sunday.
Casazza Urgo's 53-year-old sister from Levittown, Linda Chapman, suffered a crushed pelvis and collapsed lung and remained clinging to life in a local hospital. Her husband, John Urgo, 53, remained in critical condition with a broken jaw and back.
On Monday afternoon, Casazza Urgo's heartbroken family from Sayville had to relive the nightbefore before a judge. The loving mother of four and grandmother of 10 was left in tears as the Nassau Co. prosecutor described the tragic accident.
"She was so beautiful. She was such a good person and she loved everybody and all her grandchildren. We're all going to miss her very deeply, and hopefully something good can come out of this terrible, terrible tragedy," said the victim's son, Thomas Casazza.
Police claim a drunken Santos -- perhaps two-times over the legal limit -- used her late model Mercedes Benz as a weapon, driving without a license. The tattoo artist from Albertson allegedly went speeding through an intersection on the Hempstead Turnpike in Levittown late Sunday, ignoring a traffic light before plowing into Casazza Urgo's family.
Casazza Urgo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Santos was taken to a local hospital and treated for minor injuries. She is being held on $1 million bond and was charged with driving while intoxicated and second-degree vehicular manslaughter.
"She's a 20 year old kid with no prior record, locally raised and born from a good family," said Nassau Co. Police Det. Sgt. Richard Laursen.
Santos is due in court again on Wednesday and if convicted faces up to seven years in prison.
Detectives request anyone with information about this accident to call Homicide Squad at 515-573-7788 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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