PIX11 NEWSROOM

December 16, 2011, 12:35 p.m.
LONG ISLAND (PIX11)—
A Long Island mother who police say was drunk at the time of a crash that paralyzed her 3-year-old daughter was sentenced by a judge Friday to 3 to 9 years in prison.

20-year-old Samantha Alfaro pleaded guilty back in January to aggravated vehicular assault and aggravated DWI charges under Leandra's Law for the March 2010 drunk driving crash.

According to authorities, Alfaro was drunk when she got behind the wheel of her1998 Mazda 626 LX on March 8, 2010. Alfaro's 3-year-old daughter was in the backseat as the pair traveled north on the South Oyster Bay Road in Syosset.

At some point police say Alfaro lost control of the vehicle, veering off across the southbound lanes and hitting the curb. The vehicle spun into oncoming traffic before slamming into a tree.

As a result of the crash and not being securely fastened in her child safety seat, Alfaro's daughter suffered a broken neck and injured spine, leaving her paralyzed, officials said.