Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Syosset man was sentenced today to seven to 21 years in prison for a high-speed drunken crash in Laurel Hollow in August 2023 that killed a young, married couple.
Sotirios Spanos, 33, pleaded guilty on April 23, 2024, before Judge Howard Sturim to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide (a B felony); two counts of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); two counts of Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); and Driving While Intoxicated (an unclassified misdemeanor).
The defendant was sentenced today to seven to 21 years in prison.
“Ismenia and Odalis Urena were a hard-working, successful couple, who had just enjoyed a well-deserved date night and were heading home to their two daughters. They tragically crossed this reckless defendant’s path as he drunkenly hurtled along Northern Boulevard at 100 miles per hour, veered into oncoming traffic and struck the Urenas’ vehicle head-on,” said DA Donnelly. “Sotirios Spanos only began to brake a second and a half before impact. He had been drinking for several hours before he made the decision to drive that cost the Urenas’ their lives. This crash was the last in an extraordinarily deadly nine-day period on our roadways last August. Each collision caused by drivers who were either drunk or high and driving recklessly. Our hearts are with the Urenas’ young daughters, family, and many friends as they continue to grieve this senseless tragedy.”
DA Donnelly said that, on August 12, 2023, at approximately 12:31 a.m., Odalis and Ismenia Urena, both 37, were traveling in a convertible heading westbound on Northern Boulevard approaching Moores Hill Road in Laurel Hollow.
The defendant was traveling in a 2023 Acura MDX eastbound on Northern Boulevard at a high rate of speed and while intoxicated. At that time Spanos crossed into oncoming traffic, struck the front passenger side of the Urena’s vehicle head-on, and drove over the vehicle.
According to the event data recorder inside the Acura, the defendant was driving approximately 100 miles per hour only 2.5 seconds before the collision. The defendant was traveling at nearly 85 miles per hour at impact.
Ismenia Urena was pronounced dead at the scene. Odalis Urena was taken to Huntington Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 1:32 a.m.
The defendant was twice the legal limit for alcohol more than three hours after the collision.
Spanos was arrested by members of the Oyster Bay Cove Police Department and Nassau County Police Department’s Homicide Squad on August 12, 2023.
The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Dellinger under the supervision of Bureau Chief Michael Bushwack of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau and under the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for the Litigation Division Kevin Higgins. The defendant is represented by Steven Epstein, Esq.
