Guilty plea in gruesome hit-run crash that killed woman

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Monday, January 25, 2016
Jose Santiago
Jose Santiago
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ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WPVI) -- A man accused of driving under the influence before a gruesome hit-and-run crash that killed one woman and injured her sister has pleaded guilty to charges in the eastern Pennsylvania case.

Thirty-three-year-old Jose Santiago entered the plea Monday in Lehigh County court to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and aggravated assault in a plea deal he had initially rejected.

Authorities said 62-year-old Anna Lewis was hit so hard in the March 15 crash in Hanover Township that she died of "traumatic amputation." Santiago's heavily damaged car was found 90 minutes later and he was arrested after that.

Santiago wept as he apologized in court Monday but said he didn't recall having been in an accident, a statement that drew an angry response from relatives of the victim.