Hartford man sentenced to five years in prison for crash that killed 70-year-old woman on Park Street

A 37-year-old Hartford man who driving 60 mph along Park Street at about 2:40 a.m. Nov. 12, 2017, was sentenced Friday to five years and a month in prison, to be followed by four years and 11 months of special parole.

Carlos Roman of Madison Street pleaded guilty in December to second-degree manslaughter. He ran a red light as he sped along Park Street near Zion Street and struck a car driven by Sofia Santiago, 70. She was badly hurt in the crash and died later of her injuries.

Roman’s lawyer, Walter D. Hussey, negotiated a plea agreement with prosecutor Anthony Bochicchio of five years in prison and five years of special parole, but Roman was late for court Friday and before adjourning for the day, Hartford Superior Court Judge Laura F. Baldini ordered Roman’s rearrest.

Roman showed up later, and court reopened for his sentencing, but Baldini added a month to his sentence for his tardiness.

Mildred Santiago, the daughter of the victim, told the judge her family has been turned upside down by the loss of her mother. “We lost a woman who loved her family with deep love and devotion,” she said.

Bochicchio said Santiago did nothing wrong that night. She was heading home, minding her own business, when Roman’s car slammed into her.

Hussey told the judge, and Santiago’s family, that Roman was sorry for what he did and for the family’s loss. Roman was trying to catch the light and in doing so was reckless, Hussey said.

Roman was initially charged with drunken driving, but issues with test results caused the alcohol related charges to be dropped.