Driver charged in West Hempstead car crash that killed passenger

Police have charged the 18-year-old driver of a car that crashed in West Hempstead early Tuesday morning, killing its passenger.

The driver, Daritza Lopez, of Uniondale, was driving in the eastbound lane of Hempstead Turnpike in West Hempstead with 28-year-old passenger Herica Contreras, also of Uniondale, when she lost control of the car, hit a parked vehicle, crossed over the westbound lane, entered the parking lot of a closed gas station and struck the side wall of the building, which is located at 130 Hempstead Turnpike.

Emergency responders pronounced Contreras dead at the scene. Lopez was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injuries. She was charged with second-degree manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter, driving while intoxicated, third-degree unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and unlicensed operator.

Police said Lopez will be arraigned as soon as medically practical.