West Hempstead man convicted in Woodmere fatal crash

The West Hempstead man that caused a fatal crash in Woodmere in December 2021 was convicted of several charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide on Aug. 21.

Arlin Aguilera, 37, was driving a blue 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck that was traveling north on Peninsula Boulevard when it struck a white 2018 Audi Q5 sport utility vehicle that was turning southbound onto Peninsula Boulevard by Edward Avenue. It was alleged he was driving while intoxicated.

The subsequent crash killed Liel Namdar, 15, a sophomore at the Torah Academy for Girls in Far Rockaway. The four other people in the Audi were injured, including the driver Miriam Meltser who was severely injured.

“Fifteen-year-old Liel Namdar was a typical teenager, enjoying a long-awaited reunion with her friends from summer camp on that December night,” Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnely said in news release.

“The girls had planned a sleepover and were being driven to one of their homes to continue the fun when they were broadsided by a drunk and speeding Arlin Aguilera,” she added in the release. “Every day we place our trust in our fellow drivers when we get behind the wheel of a car or clip our children into the backseat. This defendant betrayed that trust with fatal and irreparable consequences. Our thoughts remain with Liel’s family as they mourn her tragic loss, and we will continue to hold drunk drivers accountable for their irresponsible actions that endanger our roadways.”

Aguilera was also convicted of manslaughter, four counts of assault and two counts of driving while intoxicated.

That crash was the fifth fatal accident on Peninsula Boulevard in two years at that time and propelled the county to install a traffic signal at Edward Avenue.

Aguilera could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 4.