POMONA WOMAN SENTENCED TO STATE PRISON AFTER LEAVING THE SCENE OF A FATAL ACCIDENT THAT KILLED ELDERLY PEDESTRIAN

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh, II, announced today that Rosana DiPaola, 26, of Pomona, New York, after having previously pled guilty to the entire indictment charging her with leaving the scene of an incident resulting in death, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree, and circumvention of an interlock device was sentenced today in the Rockland County Court by the Honorable Djinsad Desir.  Judge Desir sentenced DiPaola to 1-3 years’ in state prison. At the time of her plea and at her sentencing, the District Attorney's Office recommended the maximum sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years' in state prison.  

On January 26, 2024, at approximately 6:30 am, DiPaola drove a silver Volkswagen Passat on Thiells Mt. Ivy Road in the Town of Haverstraw and struck a pedestrian causing him to collide onto a black Jeep Wrangler. She then fled the scene and never reported the accident. The license plate of the Volkswagen came off of DiPaola’s car and was left at the scene. This license plate assisted the Town of Haverstraw Police Department with their investigation which culminated in her arrest.  DiPaola’s actions led to the death of 73-year-old pedestrian Daniel Deserio.

District Attorney Walsh said, “The actions of the defendant on that day resulted in the death of a Rockland County resident and father. Traffic laws are in place to protect both drivers and pedestrians. The defendant had a prior driving under the influence conviction from 2018.  At the time of this accident her driver’s license was revoked and she was operating the vehicle without an ignition interlock as required based on that previous conviction. She will now be held accountable for her actions. I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased victim.  My office will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases and request stern and just sentences.”

The case was investigated by the Town of Haverstraw Police Department with the assistance of the Town of Ramapo Police Department. Supervising Assistant District Attorney Meghan Garvey and Executive Assistant District Attorney Michael Dugandzic prosecuted the case.

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