Riverhead cops: Two parents charged with felony DWI under Leandra’s Law, one after a crash, during holiday weekend

Riverhead Town Police report making two felony DWI arrests this weekend under the statute known as Leandra’s Law, which makes it a felony to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated or impaired by drugs with passengers under the age of 16.

Police charged Angel G. Ordonez Guitz, no age or address provided, with driving while intoxicated, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, criminal possession of a controlled substance and leaving the scene of an accident, Saturday night after he was involved in a crash on Old Country Road east of Ostrander Avenue, just after 6 p.m., according to a police press release.

Ordonez Guitz, operating a red pickup, attempted to leave the scene but was apprehended a short distance away, police said.

He had his 8- and 11-year-old daughters in his vehicle at the time of the crash, police said.

Police charged Lori A. Saraf, no age or address provided, with driving while intoxicated and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child after a traffic stop on Edwards Avenue in Calverton Sunday at 6:37 p.m., according to a police press release.

Saraf had her 6- and 9-year-old sons in her vehicle, police said.

Both drivers were arrested and processed at Riverhead Town Police Department headquarters, accord to the press releases.

Leandra’s Law, also known as the Child Passenger Protection Act, was enacted in 2009, and is named for 11-year-old Leandra Rosado, of the Bronx, who was killed in October 2009 when a car driven by an drunk family friend crashed on the Henry Hudson Parkway. Leandra was one of seven children in the car at the time.

Anyone charged with DWI or driving while impaired with a passenger under age 16 is automatically charged with a Class E Felony, a crime punishable by 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison.

Editor’s note: A criminal charge is an accusation. A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.