Thread: Man Sentenced In Fatal Border Crash

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

Driver In Border Crash Charged With 5 Murders
5 Killed, 7 Injured In Head-On Collision

POSTED: 7:45 pm PDT July 6, 2005
UPDATED: 7:23 am PDT July 7, 2005

SAN DIEGO -- A driver who was allegedly speeding and drugged when he crashed a van, killing five undocumented immigrants, was charged with murder Wednesday.

Fidel Gonzalez, 19, of North Hollywood, was arraigned at his Mercy Hospital bedside. Gonzalez is being treated there for injuries he sustained during the accident.

Investigators said Gonzalez crashed a van full of undocumented immigrants on June 30 when he crossed a double yellow line to pass another car. A pregnant woman, a 10-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl died. Two others were killed and seven more were injured.

Prosecutors decided to charge Gonzalez with murder rather than manslaughter because of the fact that he had drugs in his system and was driving well over the speed limit, NBC 7/39 reported.

"It's tragic; there are things you can't get back," said Deputy District Attorney Joe McLaughlin.

A judge said he would not issue bail in the case, even if Gonzalez does recover from his injuries.

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/4692041/detail.html