Skip to main content

Driver in Fatal Crash Faces Long List of New Charges

Mon, 07/07/2025 - 11:25
Luis Gonzalo Barrionuevo-Fuertes outside East Hampton Town Justice Court on June 16.
Denis Hartnett

Luis Gonzalo Barrionuevo-Fuertes, the 18-year-old East Hampton High School graduate who was driving the car involved in a fatal accident in Springs on the evening of June 15, is scheduled to have his first appearance in Suffolk County Court in Riverhead on Wednesday morning, and faces a long list of new criminal charges.

Mr. Barrionuevo-Fuertes was arrested at the scene of the accident, which resulted in the death of a 19-year-old East Hampton High School student, Scarleth Milena Urliges Samaniego, and sent six other teenage passengers to the hospital. He was arraigned before East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky the following afternoon, charged with aggravated driving while intoxicated with a child passenger less than 16, a felony, and the misdemeanors of first-offense D.W.I., and endangering the welfare of a child.

He now faces the additional felony charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, second-degree vehicular manslaughter, two counts of second-degree assault by means of a deadly weapon, first-degree vehicular assault, and two counts of second-degree vehicular assault.

He has additionally been charged with the misdemeanors of first-offense D.W.I. with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher, three counts of reckless third-degree assault, third-degree assault, and reckless driving, as well as a speed violation.

Melissa Aguanno, Mr. Barrionuevo-Fuertes's attorney, had said after his first arraignment that she received notice from the district attorney's office that it would be holding a grand jury proceeding on June 20 to determine whether additional charges could be brought against her client, and the New York State Unified Court System website has since been updated to reflect those new charges.

Mr. Barrionuevo-Fuertes is scheduled to appear before Suffolk County Court Judge Steven A. Pilewski at 9 a.m. on Wednesday to be arraigned on the new charges.

It Was S.U.V. on S.U.V.

On June 23, a Subaru S.U.V. rear-ended a Toyota S.U.V. at Carl Fisher Plaza in Montauk. That evening, two other S.U.V.s collided in Wainscott and had to be towed away. And more news of the roads.

Jul 3, 2025

One Thing After Another

Failed to yield, failed to signal, failed to stay in lane, a failed taillight, a failed roadside sobriety test.

Jul 3, 2025

Bridge Strike Impacts Trains

A Penske rental truck collided with the Long Island Rail Road overpass on Cove Hollow Road in East Hampton Village shortly before 4 p.m. on June 26, resulting in train service delays between the Southampton and Montauk stations.

Jul 3, 2025

Driver Leaves Path of Destruction at Montauk Art Show

Early Sunday morning, it looked as if a small tornado had torn through the Montauk Green and the Montauk Artists Association Art Show. Instead, East Hampton Town police say the destruction — which wiped out the inventory of some participating artists — was caused by a drunken driver.

Jun 30, 2025

 

Your support for The East Hampton Star helps us deliver the news, arts, and community information you need. Whether you are an online subscriber, get the paper in the mail, delivered to your door in Manhattan, or are just passing through, every reader counts. We value you for being part of The Star family.

Your subscription to The Star does more than get you great arts, news, sports, and outdoors stories. It makes everything we do possible.