Man Sentenced In Fatal Border Crash
Vic Salazar, NBC 7/39 Reporter

POSTED: 4:41 pm PDT May 30, 2007
UPDATED: 5:46 pm PDT May 30, 2007

EL CAJON, Calif. -- The driver of a van that crashed while allegedly smuggling illegal immigrants, killing five, learned his fate Wednesday.

Fidel Gonzales was sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Gonzales struck a deal with the district attorney's office, avoiding trial by pleading guilty in an El Cajon courtroom to gross vehicular manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon.

Investigators said Gonzalez crashed a van full of undocumented immigrants on June 30, 2005, when he crossed a double yellow line to pass another car on Highway 94 near Steele Canyon Road. He slammed head-on into a truck.

A pregnant woman, a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl died. Two others were killed and seven more were injured.

Peggy Jones was in the truck that was hit head-on.

"I'm lost for words really. I'm sad for him, for his family and the loss they all have to go though. I'm still suffering and so are the other victims," Jones said.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/1341591 ... o&psp=news