San Jose Man Sentenced For DUI Crash That Killed 2 Teens
SAN JOSE (AP) - A San Jose man was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed two San Jose teenagers.
A judge in San Jose allowed the victims' families to testify for a full day Monday before passing sentence on 21-year-old Adam Mendoza. One mother brought her son's ashes to the trial and called for justice.
Prosecutors say Mendoza was drunk and high on methamphetamines in March 2009 when his SUV hit a light pole. It toppled onto the SUV and crushed 18-year-old Izzy Raya and 17-year-old Ralphy Naranjo, who were in the back seat.
A 17-year-old girl in the car was badly injured.
Mendoza, who pleaded guilty in the case, apologized to a courtroom packed with people wearing T-shirts featuring photos of the dead teenagers.
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