Kings Park woman faces upgraded charges in fatal head-on crash
Natalia Simons, 36, of Kings Park, was arrested Friday, March 13, 2015, and charged with driving while intoxicated after causing a head-on crash in Smithtown that killed an Island Park man, Suffolk County police said. Credit: SCPD / Joseph C. Sperber
A Kings Park woman initially charged with driving drunk was arraigned Wednesday on upgraded grand jury charges in connection with a fatal, head-on collision in March, the Suffolk County district attorney's office said.
Natalia Simons, 36, pleaded not guilty to a 12-count indictment that included aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter in the first and second degrees, assault, aggravated driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, speeding and failure to maintain lane.
On March 13, she was going north on Route 25A in Smithtown when she veered into the southbound lanes and hit a Toyota Camry, killing driver Larry Garwood, 59, of Island Park, police had said.
Her blood alcohol level was .18 percent, according to the indictment. Under state law, a person with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 percent is considered intoxicated.
Simons' attorney could not be immediately reached Wednesday. She remained free on a $50,000 cash bail.
