Woman Sentenced for Fatal Car Crash

A southern New Jersey woman who caused a fatal crash that also injured two young children has been sentenced to five years in state prison.

Monmouth County prosecutors say 36-year-old Bilgye Santamaria of Toms River must serve more than four years before she becomes eligible for parole.

Santamaria pleaded guilty last October to vehicular homicide and child endangerment charges stemming from a January 2012 crash in Howell Township that killed 26-year-old Eileen Figueroa of Freehold Township. She was sentenced Friday

Prosecutors say Santamaria was speeding and had three young children in her sport utility vehicle as she drove southbound on Route 9. She ran a red light just moments before she struck Figueroa's vehicle.

Figueroa died later that day. Two of the three children in Santamaria's SUV suffered undisclosed injuries.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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