BRIGHTON, N.Y. (AP) - A western New York woman has been charged in a crash that killed a woman and a 9-year-old girl who were walking on a sidewalk, officials said.
Ninoshka Vazquez-Ruiz, 20, was charged with criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, Brighton Police Chief David Tholdi said Monday. She was arrested on Friday.
Vazquez-Ruiz was speeding in Brighton the morning of Nov. 27 when she drove her sedan off the road and struck Mila Ruangsuwana and her babysitter, Elmira Kamilevna Hall, 45, of Farmington.
Vazquez-Ruiz was allegedly driving more than twice the speed limit - 63 mph (100 kph) in a 30 mph (48 kph) zone.
At the time of the crash, Hall and Mila were walking with Mila’s 2-year-old brother, Evan, and their sister Lily, who is in third grade, police said. Evan was seriously injured and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Lily was not injured.
Police have not said what caused Vazquez-Ruiz to drive onto the sidewalk, but her husband has said she fell asleep at the wheel.
In addition to the criminal charges, Vazquez-Ruiz was issued several traffic tickets, including speeding, failure to keep right and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, police said.
It could not immediately be determined if Vazquez-Ruiz had a lawyer who could comment on her behalf.
She is due to appear in court on Feb. 19.
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