Incident location, Long Island
What Happened
Luis Barrionuevo-Fuertes, 19, of Moriches, was sentenced to four to 12 years in prison Wednesday in Suffolk County Criminal Court in Riverhead for a June 2025 crash in Springs that killed one teenager and injured six others. Justice Steven A. Pilewski handed down the sentence after Barrionuevo-Fuertes pleaded guilty on February 11 to 19 charges stemming from the fatal accident that claimed the life of Scarleth Urgiles Samaniego, 19, a junior at East Hampton High School.
The deadly crash occurred on Old Stone Highway when Barrionuevo-Fuertes was driving seven teenagers home from Maidstone Park Beach in his 2006 Toyota Camry. According to prosecutors, six passengers were crammed into the backseat when the driver lost control of the vehicle, struck a tree, and the sedan rolled onto its side. Urgiles Samaniego, who was seated in the back, was killed in the crash, while all other occupants sustained injuries. One 18-year-old passenger suffered a spinal fracture and “significant disfigurement” of her hand, according to the Suffolk County district attorney.
Police investigation revealed that Barrionuevo-Fuertes had been drinking before the accident and was traveling at excessive speeds. Recording software in his car documented speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour in the moments before the crash on Old Stone Highway, where the posted speed limit is 30 miles per hour. The timing of the accident particularly devastated the East Hampton High School community, occurring on the eve of the final day of classes in June 2025.
The passengers in the vehicle included students ranging in age from 15 to 19, all from East Hampton. Besides the 15-year-old and the 18-year-old who sustained the spinal fracture, the other occupants included two 19-year-olds, one 18-year-old, and one 17-year-old. All had been students at East Hampton High School, according to court records.
During Wednesday’s sentencing, tears were shed on both sides of the courtroom as Barrionuevo-Fuertes read an apology letter aloud through an interpreter. “I just want to say I’m sorry… Those are the only words I can think of to say,” he told the court. “In my prayers there isn’t a single day I don’t say ‘I’m sorry’ to Scarleth.” He asked for forgiveness from Urgiles Samaniego’s family as well as the families of the other injured passengers, whom he named individually in his letter. The victim’s mother, Gabriella, wept during the apology and ultimately left the courtroom with her son, Urgiles Samaniego’s brother, while the defendant spoke. Both declined to make victim impact statements or speak to reporters after leaving the courtroom.
The most serious charges Barrionuevo-Fuertes pleaded guilty to include aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter in the second degree, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, vehicular assault in the first degree, and two counts of vehicular assault in the second degree. He also pleaded to aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle, a charge that applied because one passenger was only 15 at the time of the accident. Eight additional misdemeanor charges and one speeding infraction rounded out the extensive list of charges.
Location & Road Context
The fatal crash occurred on Old Stone Highway in Springs, a hamlet within East Hampton on Long Island’s South Fork. Old Stone Highway serves as a key connector road in the Springs area, linking residential neighborhoods to popular beach destinations like Maidstone Park Beach. The 30 mile per hour speed limit on this stretch reflects the road’s residential character and the need for careful navigation through the area’s winding sections.
The accident’s location near popular beach areas highlights the seasonal traffic patterns that affect East End roads, particularly during late spring and summer months when students and families frequent local beaches and recreational areas.
Investigation & Legal Proceedings
Following the June 2025 crash, Barrionuevo-Fuertes was indicted by Suffolk County and faced an extensive list of charges. His February 11, 2026 guilty plea covered 19 total charges, including multiple felony counts related to the death and injuries caused in the crash. Seven of the misdemeanor charges carried one-to-three-year sentences, two carried three-year sentences, eight carried one-year sentences, and the speeding violation carried a 30-day penalty. Justice Pilewski ordered all sentences to be served concurrently.
Beyond the prison term, Barrionuevo-Fuertes faces additional consequences including three years of probation following his release, license revocation, a $5,000 fine, and a $570 surcharge. The Suffolk County Department of Corrections will determine which upstate prison facility will house him during his sentence. At the time of sentencing, he was being held at the Suffolk County jail in Yaphank before being taken away by guards after addressing his family members seated in the courtroom audience.
Defense attorney Melissa Aguanno represented Barrionuevo-Fuertes throughout the proceedings and had informed him that his previous aspirations of joining the military would no longer be possible, even after completing his sentence. Before the accident, the defendant had participated in a two-year BOCES law enforcement program and had hoped for a military career.
Broader Impact
The case underscores the severe legal consequences facing drivers convicted of fatal DWI crashes in New York, where aggravated vehicular homicide and related charges can result in lengthy prison sentences. The combination of excessive speed, alcohol impairment, and multiple injuries created a complex legal scenario that resulted in 19 separate charges, demonstrating how prosecutors can pursue comprehensive accountability in cases involving young victims and reckless driving behavior.