Crime & Safety

Toms River Woman Sentenced For Role in 2012 Fatal Crash

Freehold resident Eileen Figueroa was killed in the accident.

A Toms River woman, formerly of Bayville, has been sentenced to five years in state prison for her role in a crash that killed a Freehold Township woman in 2012.

Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced that 36-year-old Bilgye Santamaria was sentenced after pleading guilty to second degree vehicular homicide and third degree endangering the welfare of a child in October.

The charges stem from an accident in January of 2012 that resulted in the death of 26-year-old Freehold Township resident Eileen Figueroa. An investigation of the crash showed that Santamaria was driving her 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer on Route 9 south at over 30 MPH above the posted speed limit when she ran a red light at the intersection with Strickland Road.

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Following the crash which occurred at 10:43 on the night of January 13 Figueroa was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center where she was pronounced dead the following morning. At the time of the crash Santamaria had three children in her car ranging in age from 5-to-10-years-old.  Two children sustained non-life threatening injuries and only the 5-year-old was Santamaria’s child.  

The crash investigation was conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the Howell Township Police Department and the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team.

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Santamaria was sentenced by Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Francis J. Vernoia and will have to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence or four years and three months before she is eligible for parole according to the No Early Release Act.

The case was prosecuted by Monmouth County Assistant Prosecutor Michael Costanzo. Santamaria is represented by Robert Fuggi of Toms River.


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