LEANDRAS ’ LEGACYLEANDRAS ’ LEGACY HENRY HUDSON PARKWAY, NY, NY CRASH TIMELINE | OCTOBER 11, 2009 Copyright © 2011 by The Lewis Henry Morgan Institute at SUNY-IT, Utica

LEANDRA’S LEGACY

Introduction

Copyright © 2011 by The Lewis Henry Morgan Institute at SUNY-IT, UticaFunded by the National Highway Tra�c Safety Administration with a grant from the New York State Governor’s Tra�c Safety Committee

A car accident can happen to anyone. It can be caused by poorroad conditions, driver error or chance circumstances. An alcohol related crash is di�erent. An alcohol related crash occurs when the driver chooses to drink. When the driver chooses to drink, no one is safe—especially the young, the innocent, the child passenger.

This exhibit, through words and images, portrays children from New York State whose lives were put in danger by an adult’s choice to drink and drive. It focuses on fateful events in a forensic style. As you tour and re�ect, get to know the stories of the Taconic Parkway crash and Henry Hudson Parkway crash. The public’s reaction to these crashes and one father’s crusade changed the law. That law is Leandra Rosado’s legacy for all children in New York State. She, like all innocent victims of alcohol related crashes, had everything to live for, but the immortality of youth met a culture of the extreme and in one second, everything changed.

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


2009 (2010), Newsday LLC

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


Top photos courtesy of the Rosado Family. Crash site photos courtesy of Denis Foley.

“What a horrible loss.”

“I remember the Taconic Crash when all those children were killed. What a horrible loss.

I said to myself, ‘When are the drunk drivers going to learn? When are the laws going to

get tougher?’ I never thought that my daughter would be taken as those girls were…”

– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father, 400 West 17th St., New York City, 07.19.11

Diane Schuler’s point of entry on the Taconic Parkway

Wrong Way sign at the northbound exit ramp from Pleasantville Road

Northbound exit approaching the crash site Memorial cross placed for Michael Bastardi, Guy Bastardi, and Daniel Longo

Taconic Parkway Crash Site

Daddy's biggest fan Daddy’s Girl at 8 months Leandra, all smiles for Grandma Olga

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


NY Daily News, Copyright by Daily News, LP

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


Photos left and center courtesy of Denis Foley. Photo of Lenny and Sandra courtesy of the Rosado Family.

Leandra: Her Grandmother’s Pride

“I loved my granddaughter. She was such a lovable little girl. She was my pride. She always

asked me if she could invite friends over and that I would cook for them. She loved me

to cook for her friends.

Leandra was like having my own daughter, like my daughter came back. My daughter

Sandra died when she was 28, so when Leandra held my hand, it was like I had my own

daughter. She would help me cross the street and raise her hands as to stop the cars and

she would say, ‘Stay there. You’re not going to hurt my grandmother,’ and the people

would laugh.

On the day she died, I saw a glow in her. I told her, ‘Give grandmother a kiss.’ She did

and left.”

– Interview with Olga Rosado, Leandra’s grandmother, 400 West 17th St., New York City, 02.25.11

Leandra’s drawing of her guardian angel, her Aunt Sandy Lenny and SandraGrandma Olga in Leandra’s pink room

LEANDRA’S LEGACY

HENRY HUDSON PARKWAY, NY, NY CRASH TIMELINE | OCTOBER 11, 2009

Crash photo courtesy of the Daily News, Copyright by Daily News, LP. Other photos courtesy of Denis Foley.Copyright © 2011 by The Lewis Henry Morgan Institute at SUNY-IT, UticaFunded by the National Highway Tra�c Safety Administration with a grant from the New York State Governor’s Tra�c Safety Committee

Brittany: “Mommy, please slow down!” Carmen: “You think this is fast?

Just wait until we get on the highway.”– Kayla Fernandez, Parents of victims furious to learn

that DWI mom mocked her own daughter’s pleas to be careful,NY Daily News, Kenny Porpora,

Mark Morales & Jonathan Lemire, 10.13.09

A Mother’s Fatal Decision 12:40 am

“[Leandra called her father] from the road Friday nighton her way to [Carmen] Huertas’ home,

asking if she could spend the weekend there(with friend Brittany Gonzalez, Carmen’s daughter.)

[Her father, Lenny Rosado,] said yes,as long as Leandra stopped back home in Chelsea Saturday

to get a change of clothes.The girls then spent Friday night at Huertas’ home,

painting one another’s nails,listening to music and singing karaoke.”

– Kid dies in ‘drunken’ car crash,Edmund DeMarche, Frank Rosario,Amber Sutherland & Larry Celona,

NY Post, 10.12.09

Slumber Party FunFriday, October 9, 2009

6:00 pm

12:45 am

Crash“The car started swerving back and forth,”

Yismel said at New York Hospital. I was like, ‘Oh, my God!’ Then it �ipped over.

Gisele, Kayla and Leandra �ew out of the car. Their eyes were closed.

I got out of the car and went to my sister, [Gisele]. I held her and said, ‘If you can hear me, nod your head.’

I told her it would be OK; that help is on the way.” – Kid dies in ‘drunken’ car crash, Edmund DeMarche,

Frank Rosario, Amber Sutherland & Larry Celona, NY Post, 10.12.09

“I went to the party and there I met Carmen. We spoke for about 5 minutes.

The last thing Carmen said was, ‘Lenny don’t worry because your daughter is in good hands.’

Later I learned the kids’ party was on the �rst �oor, but Carmen went to the third �oor for the alcohol.”– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father,

400 West 17th St., New York City, 02.25.11 & 07.19.11

“In good hands.”7:15 pm

“Although Huertas had told friends she would spend only

two hours at the party,she starts drinking [cognac] and decides to stay longer.”

– Timeline of Henry Hudson Parkway tragedy,NY Daily News, 10.13.09

Carmen’s Plans Change9:30 pm

Saturday, October 10, 20096:00 pm

The Party Continues

“Leandra came back at 6 o’clock.Carmen dropped her o� here

because she needed a changed of clothes.Olga was here, her grandmother, and I was here.

She got her clothing and I took her back to Brittany’s father’s home

and the 18th birthday party for Brittany’s cousin,Corinna Gonzalez, at 20th Street between 6th and 7th Avenue.”

– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father,400 West 17th St., New York City, 02.25.11

& Timeline of Henry Hudson Parkway tragedy,NY Daily News, 10.13.09

8:00 pm Lenny Sees Leandra

for the Last Time

“I walked with my daughter and her friends from the party

because the girls wanted to go for pizza.She asked for �ve dollars and then as I was leaving

she asked for another �ve dollarsbecause her friend had no money for pizza.

She said, ‘I love you, Daddy,’and I said, ‘I love you too.’”

– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father,400 West 17th St., New York City, 02.25.11

Sunday, October 11, 200912:00 am

The Car Ride

Carmen Huertas places her daughter, Brittany Gonzalez,in her Mercury Sable along with

Leandra Rosado, Yismel Rosario, Yiselle Rosario,Kayla Fernandez, and Amanda Vasquez

and begins to drive up the West Side of Manhattanon the way to her Bronx home for a slumber party.

– Compiled from Bronx Woman Is Charged in Crash That Killed Girl, 11,

Simon Akam & Colin Moynihan, NY Times, 10.11.09

“Who thinks something’s gonna happen? Raise your hand. Who thinks we’re gonna get into an accident?” – Carmen Huertas

Rocco's Pizza Joint

Outside the Rosado’s apartment building W 20th St. Brittany and Leandra at the birthday party

Memorial at crash siteCrash scene

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


First two photos courtesy of Denis Foley. Photo of Carmen Huertas courtesy of the Daily News, Copyright by Daily News, LP.Photo of Lenny Rosado courtesy of the Associated Press. Photo of Olga Rosado courtesy of Denis Foley.


Carmen Huertas is arrested by O�cer Dennis Vickery,

Highway Unit No. 1 at the scene, Henry Hudson Parkway and 90th Street.

– Datasheet Information, New York County Assistant District Attorney’s o�ce.

Carmen Huertas is Arrested1:43 am

Carmen Huertas blows a .132 BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) at the scene.

– Datasheet Information, New York County Assistant

District Attorney’s o�ce.

Sunday, October 11, 2009 .132 BAC12:57 am

“[Soon after] I got to the hospital, my brother Daniel arrived and a doctor came out of the emergency room.

The doctor escorted me to a conference room. He said there was a car accident. A woman lost control

and the car �ipped over and rolled into a tree. Three girls were ejected from the car. Five are sick and one is severely sick.

I asked, ‘Who is the girl who is severely sick.’ He asked me if I was Leandra’s dad and I said, ‘Yes.’

He said Leandra was the one who was extremely sick. Leandra did not make it.”


“Leandra did not make it.”1:25 am

1:00 amLeandra is Pronounced Dead

“Leandra is pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital.”– Timeline of Henry Hudson Parkway tragedy, NY Daily News, 10.13.09

“For ten minutes my phone was vibrating, but I was busy. I �nally looked and saw I was getting calls from Ernesto Gonzales,

Carmen’s ex-husband. So I went into the lobby of the Maritime Hotel and I dialed the number.

Ernesto’s girlfriend, Jackie, answered. She was hysterical.She tells me, ‘Lenny, you need to go to Roosevelt Hospital;

the girls were in a crash.’ I got a cab and then I was frantic. I called my brother Daniel.

I prayed to God that nothing serious had happened to my daughter.”– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father,

400 West 17th St., New York City, 02.25.11

1:30 am Leandra is Identi�ed

“My brother Danny said he would go and identify Leandra. I felt so bad. I prayed it wasn’t her. After �ve minutes, he came back.

He put his hand on my head and says, ‘She is gone’ and I collapsed to my knees.

I screamed and cried and asked God, ‘Why, why? This cannot be!’

I wanted to scream more, but I could not; they called the hospital police on me.”


2:10 am“She looked like

she was sleeping.”

“A doctor came back and asked me if I wanted to see my daughter.

We went into a room and he pulled back a curtain. She was face up with a sheet up to her neck.

She looked like she was sleeping. I caressed her face. Then I noticed she had dried blood on her nose and in her ear.

I kissed her on the cheek and had her face next to mine. I told her, ‘I love you.

Daddy will make sure the person who did this to you will pay for it.’ Then the doctor gave me a snip of her hair.”


“Not my daughter! How could this happen?” – Lenny Rosado

Maritime Hotel where Lenny works St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital Carmen in custody Grandma Olga looking at Leandra’s artwork

Lenny speaking with the press

“We left the hospital to come home. I had my aunt with me and I sat on the �oor

thinking how I would tell my mother. My aunt decided to tell her.

She went into my mother’s room and I heard my mother cry and begin to wail.

It sounded like she cried forever. She came out of her room and asked me how I was.

I was sitting on the �oor trying to make sense of my daughter passing away.”


Grandma Olga Learns of Leandra’s Death

6:00 am

The Press Arrives

“Someone said the news people were downstairs, so I talked to the reporters and found out

that Carmen Huertas was drunk and was speeding on the highway.

The minute I heard that, my emotions changed from sadness to anger.

I remembered Carmen telling me that my daughter is in good hands!

Then someone told me that this [crash] was just a misdemeanor.

You’ve got to be kidding me! Killing someone was just a misdemeanor?

I thought this has to be a felony. Then I said, ‘It’s got to change.’”


LEANDRA’S LEGACY


Two photos on left courtesy of Denis Foley.Three photos on right courtesy of the Daily News, Copyright by Daily News, LP.


“Thirty-one-year-old Carmen Huertas pleaded not guilty Wednesday to manslaughter and other charges. Her bail was set at $250,000.

She attended her arraignment via video link between the courtroomand a Queens hospital jail ward where she is being held.

[Her] lawyer says she remains distraught and on suicide watch...”– Carmen Huertas Drunk Driving: On Suicide Watch,

Mother Pleads Not Guilty To Manslaughter, Hu�ngton Post, 10.28.09

“In discussing her recent mental health history, Ms. Huertas reported being devastated

over the death of Leandra Rosado, who she referred to as her daughter’s best friend.

‘I cannot believe a child’s life was taken away so youngand that I’m responsible.’ ”

– Carmen Huertas, The People of the State of New York v Carmen Huertas, Pre-pleading Memorandum,

submitted to Hon. Judge Charles Solomon, 05.25.10

Carmen Huertas Pleads Not GuiltyWednesday, October, 28, 2009

“I went to Redden’s Funeral Home on 14th Street between 8th and 9th Avenue and made arrangements.

I was in disbelief. I could not believe I was making funeral arrangements for our daughter.

When I was there I did not want to looks at caskets. I didn’t want to be there.

I hoped this was all a mistake.

When I went home I saw that people had brought candles and stu�ed animals

and made a memorial at the entrance to the apartment lobby. My cousin brought an erase board

where people could write messages. They put up pictures of Leandra

and taped it to the wall near the buzzers.”– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father,


Lenny Makes Funeral ArrangementsMonday, October 12, 2009

1:30 pm

“All my coworkers from the hotel, even the manager,

came over bringing plates of food. The head chef came over with a special dish.

Then we went to the wake.”– Interview with Lenny Rosado,

Leandra’s father, 400 West 17th St., New York City, 02.25.11

Before Leandra’s WakeWednesday, October 14, 2009

11:30 am

Tuesday, October 13, 20098:30 am

Leandra’s Memorial

“I went to my daughter’s school, the Greenwich Village Middle School.

I brought �iers for the days of the wake and I left them there. Then I came home and more family members were coming.

I spent part of the day downstairs at the memorialbecause the media continued to come.

I wanted to be near the memorial because the kids were coming after school

and I put up another erase board so they could give their condolences.”


Saturday, October 17, 20099:30 am

Leandra’s Funeral Linden Hill United Methodist Cemetery,

Ridgewood, Queens

“The Mass was beautiful, but my feelings were too much. I was taking care of her mother, Joida. It was too, too much.”

– Interview with Olga Rosado, Leandra’s grandmother, 400 West 17th St., New York City, 07.19.11

“The Mass was packed. My family’s cousins, all boys, carried her casket into the limo.

I didn’t want it to go away, so I leaned on it. The limo drove through the neighborhood

and went down 8th Avenue to 10th Avenue on 17th Street. We passed the Guardian School where Leandra

had spent kindergarten through 4th grade.”– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father,


Friday, October 29, 2010Carmen Huertas is Sentenced

“Huertas was sentenced to four to 12 years on Friday. She was told in August that in exchange for her guilty plea to manslaughter

and other charges pertaining to Rosado's death and the injuries to the other children she would receive a sentence

less than the maximum of �ve to 15 years in prison.”– Bronx Mother Gets 4 Years for Drunken Driving Crash That Killed Chelsea Girl,

Shayna Jacobs, DNAinfo, 10.29.10

“ ‘Your honor, I want to share my deepest sympathy and my sincerest apology to those who have been

forever scarred by my conduct,‘Huertas began in her statement, adding

‘Leandra was a smart, beautiful and funny girl...I am not a monster – I am a loving mother who made a horrible decision

that caused the loss of an innocent child and injured others.’”– Carmen Huertas, Bronx Mother Gets 4 Years

for Drunken Driving Crash That Killed Chelsea Girl, Shayna Jacobs, DNAinfo, 10.29.10

“If it could happen to my daughter, it could happen to anyone’s daughter.” – Lenny Rosado

Redden’s Funeral Home Memorial at the entrance to the apartment lobby

Friends at Leandra’s Wake Carmen at sentencingLeandra’s co�n

“The most precious gift I ever received in my life was

taken away from me that very morning...I lost my best friend –

my Friday night Blockbuster date. My parents lost their only grandchild.

My brother, his only niece. I lost my only child and her name

was Leandra Rosado – my princess.”– Lenny Rosado, Bronx Mother Gets 4 Years

for Drunken Driving Crash That Killed Chelsea Girl, Shayna Jacobs, DNAinfo/Manhattan Local News,

10.29.10

Lenny’s LossFriday, October 29, 2010

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


Top row photos courtesy of The Guardian Angel School,Bottom row courtesy of The Rosado Family.

A Vibrant Child

“Lenny and Leandra came in the principal’s office at the Guardian Angel School for the first time. He began to register her and Leandra snapped her fingers and said, ‘This place is not for me’ and walked out of the building, leaving her father in front of the principal’s desk.”– Interview with Principal Maureen P. Mc Elduff, Guardian Angel School, New York, New York, 09.08.11

“She was vibrant. She wanted to take part in everything. Leandra loved speaking in front of class. I had Leandra in summer school. She wore her white Crocs everyday. Her father had bought them for her. The day before the 4th of July the Crocs were red, white and blue. I asked her, ‘What about the shoes?’ She replied, ‘Hello, the 4th of July? POP POP POP, fireworks?’ ” – Interview with Christie Perez, third grade teacher at Guardian Angel School, New York, New York, 09.08.11

Leandra participating in The High Line Portrait Project Leandra posing in the hall with �nger pointed Leandra posing for the camera

Guardian Angel School, Ms. Dobbs’ Grade 4 class picture (Leandra is seated in the front row, fourth from the left)

Guardian Angel School Class �eld trip to the Queen County Farm Museum, Glen Oaks (Leandra is kneeling in the front row, �rst on the left)

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


Photo of Leandra and Lenny courtesy of the Rosado Family.Other photos courtesy of Denis Foley.

A Father’s Remorse

“Leandra always considered me her ‘Prince Charming.’ She never liked me to talk to

other girls or women. She told me, ‘I am the only princess, you know.’ I was her hero,

her protector. I feel guilty that I was unable to prevent what happened. I met Carmen,

I let my mental awareness down. I should have asked Carmen if she was going to drink.

I should have said something…maybe there would have been a different outcome.

Fridays were our days. Every Friday we’d do something together, but that Friday [before

the crash] I had to do the evening shift. If I wasn’t working the evening shift, she would

be alive. We would have been doing something together. She wasn’t invited to the

party initially, but I let her go when she asked me and I still feel guilty.”


Leandra with her Prince Charming Leandra’s note to her father Lenny at Leandra’s Memorial Garden, West 17th Street, New York City

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


NY Daily News, Copyright by Daily News, LP

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


First two photos courtesy of the Rosado Family. Photo of Lenny courtesy of the Daily News, Copyright by Daily News, LP.

Leandra’s LawBecame O�cial Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

“I decided that I’m going to do what I have to do for my daughter.”– Interview with Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father, 400 West 17th St., New York City, 07.19.11

“ ‘My daughter’s name and Leandra’s Law will save lives from here on,’ Rosado said,

tears in his eyes. In addition to making it a felony to drive drunk with a kid 15 or under

in the car, the law will also require ignition locks for any convicted drunk driver. The

Senate passed the legislation 58-0. The Assembly gave unanimous approval on Tuesday.

‘This is going to make a difference to save lives. I wish it didn’t happen the way it did,

but we turned a tragedy into a little bit of a positive.’”– Lenny Rosado, Leandra’s father, Leandra’s Law official: Driving drunk with child in car felony after death

of Leandra Rosado, 11, Kenneth Lovett, NY Daily News, 11.18.09

Leandra seated at table RIP Leandra design Lenny at funeral

LEANDRA’S LEGACY


Acknowledgments Special thanks to the following individuals for their support and dedication to this exhibit:Miguel Acevedo, Christie Acosta, Booker T. Brown, Denise Cashmere, NYS Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico, Det. Anthony DiCarlo, Senator Martin M. Dilan, Charles DeWeese, Barbara J. Fiala, Senator Charles J. Fuchillo, The Hance Family, Sharon Henderson, Father Fernando Hernandez, New York County Chief of Vehicular Crime Bureau ADA Jill Hoexter, Kings County DA Charles J. Hynes, Catalina Jaramillo, NYC Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelley, Dr. Ilona Lubman, Dominick Macherone, Principal Maureen P. McEldu�, Cathy Mahon, Barbara Medina, Bronx County Chief of Vehicular Crimes Bureau ADA Joseph A. McCormack, Governor David Paterson, Denny Peña, Christie Perez, Adele Roman, Daniel Rosado, Lenny Rosado, Leonardo Rosado, Olga Rosado, The Rosado Family, Gisselle Rosario, The Rosario Family, New York County ADA Christopher Ryan, Milagros Salas, Hon. Judge Charles Solomon, Angela Troisi, New York County DA Hon. Cyrus Vance Special thanks to the following institutions and organizations, without which this exhibit would not have been possible:AEA, Automovilistas Europeos Asociados, Bronx County District Attorney’s O�ce, Chief Vehicular Crimes Unit, DNAinfo, Design Function, Inc., El Diario/La Prensa (EDLP), The Guardian Angel School, M.A.D.D. (Mother’s Against Drunk Driving), National Highway Tra�c Safety Administration, NY Daily News, NYS DMV, New York City Police Department’s Accident, Investigation Squad and Highway Unit, New York City: Stop DWI Programs, New York County District Attorney’s O�ce, New York Post, New York State Association of Chiefs of Police, New York State Governor’s Tra�c Safety Committee, New York State Legislature, New York State Police, New York State STOP DWI Coordinator’s Association, New York State STOP DWI Foundation, New York Times, Newsday, The Research Foundation at the State University of New York

Recognition to the Lewis Henry Morgan Institute, SUNY-IT sta� and faculty, the creators of this exhibit: Kaitlin Altone, Francis Connors, Ilona Flores, Denis Foley, Mike Herman, Andrew Jackson, Bridget Kelly-Stein, Anna Martin, Marlyn Obendo-Foley, Felipe A. Oltramari, Ed Ostberg, Maria Sohn, Andrew Wolfe

Documents

LEANDRAS ’ LEGACYLEANDRAS ’ LEGACY HENRY HUDSON PARKWAY, NY, NY CRASH TIMELINE | OCTOBER 11, 2009 Copyright © 2011 by The Lewis Henry Morgan Institute at SUNY-IT, Utica