Teen who injured six in hit-and-run crash, including woman whose legs were amputated, headed to prison

A reckless Long Island teen who left six people injured in a late-night hit-and-run crash — including a woman who had to have her legs amputated — is on his way to prison, prosecutors said.

Valdemar Meza-Martinez was just 16 and driving illegally with a learner’s permit around 1:30 a.m. on Aug. 4, 2024, when he slammed his 2010 Nissan Rogue into another car in Wyandanch, trapping the horribly injured woman between two cars — then took off running.

Cops later caught up with Meza-Martinez, who was busted and pleaded guilty in September to a felony charge of leaving the scene of an incident resulting in serious physical injury, prosecutors announced.

Meza-Martinez, now 17, was hit with a sentence of 1 1/3 to 4 years in prison this week.

“These injuries are life-altering,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, who agreed to the plea deal with Meza-Martinez but ripped state laws that prevented him from giving the teen more.

“The fact that a driver could strike this victim, taking her legs, flee the scene as if nothing happened, and then only face a maximum 1 ⅓ to 4 years, is incomprehensible,” he added.

“It is completely callous to leave an injured individual on the side of the road without checking on their well-being or seeking help,” Tierney added. “I will continue to push our state lawmakers to pass legislation to increase the penalties for hit-and-run cases with serious physical injury and death in order to deter drivers from fleeing the scenes of crashes.”

According to authorities, Meza-Martinez was driving on Patton Avenue when he came upon two vehicles that were stopped after a fender-bender, with occupants of both cars out side the vehicles.

The teen crashed into the back of a 2014 Kia Optima, which was next to a 2013 Toyota Camry — the two vehicles involved in the earlier minor collision.

Meza-Martinez slammed the Optima into the Camry, injuring those in the crowd and pinning the woman between the two cars, instantly crushing her legs and leaving her trapped.

She was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital, where she underwent surgery “to amputate the remainder of her legs,” Suffolk County prosecutors said.

Meza-Martinez took off running, but was picked up at his home 11 hours later, officials said.

Under New York State law, young drivers who only have a learner’s permit are only permitted to get behind the wheel with an adult driver, and Meza-Martinez was in the car alone after hours.

He pleaded guilty on Sept. 29 and sentenced Wednesday.