Driver, 2 others injured in Hempstead street race

A 19-year-old Copiague woman was arrested Sunday after a street race in Hempstead resulted in a serious car accident that injured her and two others.

Nassau homicide squad detectives said Cristela Umana-Herrera, 19, of Croyden Road, was driving a 1993 Acura west on Front Street in an "unauthorized speed contest" shortly before 4 a.m. She was racing against a second, unknown vehicle beginning at High Street when she lost control of her car and struck a utility pole on the northwest side of West Orchard Street and Front Street, police said.

Herrera was transported to a hospital with a serious head injury, police said. Two passengers in her car, a 20-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man, were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The second vehicle continued without stopping. Police impounded Herrera's car for brake and safety checks.

Herrera is charged with third-degree assault, two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, operating a motor vehicle with suspended registration, illegal speed contest, and additional vehicle and traffic law violations. Herrera was issued a desk appearance ticket and is due back in First District Court in Hempstead on Dec. 24.

By Laura Figueroa Hernandez

laura.figueroa@newsday.com@Laura_Figueroa

Laura Figueroa Hernandez is the White House correspondent and previously covered New York City politics and government. She joined Newsday in 2012 after covering state and local politics for The Miami Herald.