Axel Lopez-Santiago entered a not guilty plea in Rockland County Court on Friday morning to charges for a crash that killed a 4-year-old girl walking with her family.

The 41-year-old Spring Valley man faces charges, including aggravated vehicular homicide and manslaughter following the fatal crash that killed the girl and injured others as they were walking on a sidewalk on Old Nyack Turnpike near Kennedy Park earlier this month.

Lopez-Santiago was at his arraignment in an orange Rockland County Jail jumpsuit and using a wheelchair.

His defense attorney tells News 12 that's because he sustained injuries from the crash.

The attorney would not provide further comment.

In court, the prosecution shared an investigation found Lopez-Santiago had purchased 4 Four Loko drinks earlier that night and some were found empty in his car at the crash scene.

They stated hours after the crash, he had a blood alcohol content of 0.19 at a local hospital.

Prosecutors add he admitted to being drunk numerous times.

News 12 also learned in court that he had a previous DWI conviction in 2018.

"It was emotional to see the defendant," said Yisroel Eisenbach, the Spring Valley Village trustee whose 4-year-old daughter Goldy was hit and killed. "I hope and pray that justice will prevail."

Yisroel describes her as a peacemaker, who always had a smile on her face and wanted to make others smile, too.

He hopes to push for stricter drunk driving laws.

Democrat Assemblyman Aron Wieder was there in court and told News 12 he will look to implement legislation.

Eisenbach was at Rockland County Court with a number of other family members and friends as they packed the court room for Lopez-Santiago's arraignment.

Family members say Goldy and other relatives were walking to a wedding celebration before the crash near Kennedy Park.

"I had to see him in cuffs to be able to get him out of my face, out of my mind, to be able to sleep better at night," said Trana Loeffler, whose husband Abraham, is still in the ICU at Westchester Medical Center in critical condition following the crash.

He is said to have a traumatic brain injury. The couple has three children.

Family members also claim Lopez-Santiago was yelling bad things about Jewish people following the accident.