CT man sentenced for deadly wrong-way crash on Hutchinson River Parkway in Westchester
Jose Espinal was driving north in the southbound lanes of the Hutchinson River parkway in Rye Brook when he crashed into a car driven by 62-year-old William Saleeby, authorities say.
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A Connecticut man will spend the next five to 15 years behind bars for causing a wrong-way crash that killed a man on a Westchester parkway.
It happened last September on the Hutchinson River Parkway.
Jose Espinal was driving south on the northbound side in Rye Brook, according to investigators.
He crashed into a car being driven by 62-year-old William Saleeby, of Greenwich. Saleeby died at the scene.
Investigators initially told News 12, Espinal had slurred speech and a strong smell of alcohol on his breath when he was arrested.
In court Monday, Espinal's attorney, Robert Osuna, called it a tragic choice with tragic consequences.
He said his client is remorseful and lived a law-abiding life.
He read a statement from his client that asked for forgiveness and said he never intended to kill somebody. In that statement, Espinal said he will never drink again.
"He has to understand that what he did on that day represented the height of irresponsibility, when you got behind your car and drove your car in the intoxicated condition that you were in. Worse than that, it resulted in an unspeakable tragedy," said the Honorable James McCarty.
On top of the five to 15 years behind bars, Espinal will also get his license revoked for one year and his car will need an ignition interlock device.
The victim's family was in the courtroom Monday. They did not have a comment.
