Mother Charged In Fatal DWI Crash Appears In Court
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The woman accused of driving drunk in a crash that killed an 11-year-old girl made an appearance in court Tuesday.
Carmen Huertas has been indicted on manslaughter and DWI charges.
While in court, the District Attorney handed an envelope to Huertas' defense attorney containing search warrants, surveillance video of the vehicle, and blood alcohol level reports.
Her lawyer says she remains on a suicide watch in the Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward, saying she has tried to kill herself multiple times.
He says Huertas wants people to know she is devastated.
"I'm not a bad person. Let them know that I'm not a bad person. Let them know that I loved Leandra, Let them know that I love my family and my children," said Defense Attorney Steven Rubin.
Leandra Rosado, 11, was killed in the October crash on the Henry Hudson Parkway.
Prosecutors say Huertas drank for hours at a family gathering before piling seven children into her car to take them to a slumber party.
"I'm suffering every day. I'm suffering every day I don't have my daughter. Every day I don't see her getting up and saying 'Good morning, Dad.' At night when I tuck her in. It hurts. And she needs to feel the pain, too," said Leandra's father, Lenny Rosado.
Huertas' next court appearance is set for January.