Bail Set at $400,000 for Moriches Man Charged With DWI in Fatal Crash That Claimed Life of East Hampton High School Student

An East Hampton Town justice set bail at $400,000 on Monday afternoon for a Moriches man charged with DWI after a crash in Springs on Sunday that led to the death of an East Hampton High School student and several injuries.

Since the crash, a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign has been set up to pay for the funeral for 18-year-old Scarleth Urgiles, the high school student, which the page says is scheduled for Friday. The initial goal was to raise $28,000 for funeral arrangements; as of Wednesday morning, the campaign had raised $59,437 from 735 donations.

Luis Gonzalo Barrionuevo Fuertes, an 18-year-old East Hampton High School graduate who now resides in Moriches, sobbed Monday afternoon as he was arraigned on multiple charges related to the crash on Old Stone Highway on Sunday at around 7:39 p.m. His attorney, Melissa Aguanno, said after the arraignment that Barrionuevo Fuertes’s family would not be able to post the $400,000 bail.

Barrionuevo Fuertes is facing one felony count under Leandra’s Law, which elevates a DWI charge from a misdemeanor to a felony when there is a passenger under 16 years old in the vehicle. Leandra’s Law is named for Leandra Rosado, a child killed in an accident in New York City caused by a drunk driver in 2009.

Barrionuevo Fuertes is additionally charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor. According to East Hampton Town Police, there were two minors in the vehicle, one 15, the other 17.

There were seven passengers in the 2009 Toyota Camry Barrionuevo Fuertes was driving. Springs Fire Department extricated two passengers from the car.

Urgiles was declared dead at the scene by first responders. Another woman, Jennifer Amon-Barrers, 18, of East Hampton, was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital’s trauma center after suffering severe injuries. Police described her condition as serious but stable.

The other five passengers, all from East Hampton, ranging in age from 15 to 19, were taken by ambulances from both East Hampton and Amagansett fire departments to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital to be treated.

According to prosecutor Christie Heine, Barrionuevo Fuertes and his passengers were returning from a day at the beach. Heine said that Barrionuevo Fuertes crossed the double-yellow line into the oncoming lane of traffic when a car suddenly appeared, headed right for his Toyota. He turned the wheel hard, Heine told the court, but “overcompensated,” with the Toyota going off the roadway, crashing into a tree and flipping over.

Old Stone Highway has been the scene of at least two fatal vehicular accidents in recent years.

In addition to the charges already leveled against Barrionuevo Fuertes, more charges could be coming, as police continue their investigation, working with the Suffolk County Crime Lab.

Barrionuevo Fuertes’s parents both wept during the arraignment, as did other members of his family and friends seated in the courtroom. None of the victims’ family members was present.

Aguanno has been retained by Barrionuevo Fuertes’s family to represent him. She stood by his side during the arraignment in front of East Hampton Town Justice Steven Tekulsky.

Tekulsky had initially ruled earlier that the arraignment would take place in a sealed courtroom, with no members of the public or press allowed, save the defendant’s family, due to the age of the defendant. However, Krista McNally, a reporter with News 12 Long Island, objected to the press being barred and contacted the organization’s legal team. Eventually, after leaving the bench for an extended period of time, Tekulsky returned and ruled that the press and public could attend the arraignment, which was then held Monday afternoon.

Barrionuevo Fuertes, handcuffed, was brought into the courtroom around 2:30 p.m.

Heine asked that bail be set at $500,000. Aguanno countered that Barrionuevo Fuertes has never been in trouble and was fully cooperative. Tekulsky then set bail at $400,000, stating that if it were posted, Barrionuevo Fuertes would have to immediately surrender his passport to the court.

If bail is not posted, the prosecution has until the end of business on Friday to obtain an indictment from a grand jury or release Barrionuevo Fuertes from custody. It is at that point that additional charges would likely be brought.

After speaking for a long period after the arraignment with Barrionuevo Fuertes’s parents, Aguanno spoke with the media.

She called the incident a “tragedy.” Aguanno said that Barrionuevo Fuertes was in the process of enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps, with a long-term goal of a career in law enforcement.

“His family wants to say that they are extremely sorry for the person who lost their life,” she added. “Everyone is devastated. This is an absolute tragedy.”

Gabriela Samaniego, Urgiles’s mother, launched the GoFundMe. Urgiles’s goal was to join the U.S. Army, she wrote. “Her dream was to buy a house for her mother and be able to take care of and provide for her mother and brother what they deserved. She tirelessly volunteered, taught, pursued, and creatively made a difference in the world.”

East Hampton High School Principal Sara Smith said the school staff had a meeting at 7:20 on Monday morning to address the news. Members of the school’s mental health team and administrative staff then visited first-period classrooms to inform the students.

Students could speak to school mental health professionals, Smith said. Some chose to speak with a professional right away, but others opted to wait. The services will continue to be available as long as needed, Smith said.

Monday was the final day of classes at the high school, when students gather for an end-of-year barbecue. After consideration, Smith said the administration elected to move forward with the event.

“Our goal was to provide a sense of normalcy and to offer students a chance to gather, reflect, and support one another,” Smith said. “At the same time, we understood that not all students would feel comfortable participating. For those who preferred a quieter space, our library was open throughout the day and staffed by social workers and supportive peers.”

Smith urged the community to move forward with kindness, care and support.

“There are no words to properly express the feelings of loss and grief that we feel at this time,” East Hampton Superintendent of Schools Adam Fine said in a statement. “The East Hampton community is strong and resilient and always comes together when needed.”

Fine asked parents to contact the school if a student needed assistance. The full mental health team was available to support students, he said separately, including social workers, psychologists, guidance counselors and administrators. The school district also had professionals from the Family Service League, a nonprofit, present for assistance.

East Hampton Village Mayor Jerry Larsen issued a statement Monday morning that described the crash as an “unimaginable tragedy.” On Father’s Day, which is meant for love and family, the community finds itself in mourning, he said.

“My heart goes out to the families affected, and on behalf of the Village of East Hampton, I extend our deepest condolences to the parents, loved ones, and friends of those involved. We stand by them in their grief, offering our support and prayers as they navigate this painful moment,” he said.

The mayor said that the village officials are reminded of the strength and resilience of the community, and he urged the community to honor the memory of those who were killed.

East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez said in part that the community is heartbroken as it mourns Urgiles. Burke-Gonzalez said the community is grieving and aching with the family.

“To our young people, I want you to hear this clearly,” she said. “You do not have to carry this alone. If you are hurting, please talk to someone. You are surrounded by people who care about you and who
are here to help.”

East Hampton is a small town, Burke-Gonzalez said. Because of that, it feels these losses deeply.

The supervisor thanked the East Hampton High School staff, the Springs Fire Department, the ambulance crews from East Hampton Village, Amagansett and Springs, and the East Hampton Town Police Department.

Police impounded the vehicle while the investigation continued. Anyone with information can contact the East Hampton Town Police Detectives Division at 631-537-7575.