Woman, 21, Gets Nearly 4 Years For DUI Crash That Killed Bicyclist
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A 21-year-old woman who fatally struck a cyclist and injured two others in a drunk driving crash in Boyle Heights last year was sentenced Tuesday to nearly four years behind bars.
Wendy Stephanie Villegas pleaded no contest in March to one count each of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing injury and leaving the scene of an accident.
On Sept. 14, 2013, Villegas hit a group of cyclists and then fled the area.
Luis "Andy" Garcia, 22, was killed. He was also dragged for hundreds of feet by a car behind Villegas' vehicle, a prosecutor said.
Garcia's devastated girlfriend, Cynthia, addressed Villegas in court.
"I hope it keeps you up late at night…your inability to say you're sorry…is it sad that that's all I want, is a sorry?" she cried.
Garcia's mother, Carmen Tellez, was unsatisfied with how much time Villegas will ultimately serve.
"I'm sick. My stomach is still turning. I'm appalled that she only received three years, eight months of state prison time. She'll only serve half of that. I'm sick to my stomach that her family did not show any remorse," she said.
Mario Lopez was injured in the collision that claimed Garcia's life.
"I remember hearing a fast car out of nowhere hitting us from behind. I remember flying, landing on the ground. I remember looking over and seeing Andy's limp body on the ground. And I see the car, just taking off. My mind, for a second, was like, why aren't you stopping?" Lopez said, adding that justice was not served.
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