More than two years after a race down the Long Island Expressway led to the death of one of his passengers, Jonnathan Santos of Manhasset is in prison, serving a sentence of 3 1/2 to 10 1/2 years.
Santos, 22, was sentenced last Wednesday by Nassau County after pleading guilty to manslaughter and driving while impaired by alcohol and drugs in October.
Santos’ co-defendant, Areefeen Hirji, who was driving the other car, received the same sentence at the end of February.
The young man who died in the crash, Gianfranco Peralta, was from Manhasset. He was 19.
In court last Wednesday, Santos said that Peralta was his best friend, according to Newsday.
“I know that nothing that I say or do will bring him back,” Santos said, according to the newspaper. “I was young and stupid at the time of the accident.”
Santos and Hirji were racing eastbound on the Long Island Expressway Feb. 23, 2017 around 11:48 p.m., according to the district attorney’s office.
Prosecutors said the two cars, a 2015 BMW and a 2017 Honda Accord, crashed at Exit 44 when they were both traveling at more than 120 mph.
The BMW, which Santos was driving, spun and hit a guardrail and pickup truck, according to the attorney’s office.
Peralta was ejected and died at the scene. The two others were treated for minor injuries.
Santos was arrested at the scene, prosecutors said, and Hirji fled.
Peralta’s family attended the sentencing and Prosecutor Katie Zizza read a statement that the family wrote saying the incident was “a disaster that will last until eternity,” according to Newsday.
Santos’ attorney, Vincent Bianco, was unavailable to comment.
“A young man with his entire life in front of him, was taken from his family and friends because of these defendants’ reckless actions,” said Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas. “While no sentence can bring Mr. Peralta back to his family, we do hope it brings them some solace.”
