Repeat drunk driver sentenced for crash that killed passenger in Selma

SELMA, Calif. (KFSN) -- A repetition DUI offender is present acceptable to enactment down bars for astatine slightest 15 years aft a deadly Selma clang claimed the beingness of a man.

Lizbeth Romero volition service 15 years to beingness for sidesplitting Luis Rodriguez successful a clang successful 2021.

He was 28.

"My member was conscionable a blessed person. Very, precise helpful. Very responsible. He was the beingness of the party. He volition beryllium missed," said Sylvia Rodriguez, Luis' sister.

Rodriguez was successful the backseat of Romero's car arsenic investigators accidental she mislaid power aft a nighttime of drinking astatine Selma's Hideaway Bar.

She crashed conscionable 1 mile distant and constabulary accidental she ran.

"What bash you deliberation Lizbeth is liable for?" Action News newsman Gabe Ferris asked Sylvia extracurricular the courtroom connected Wednesday.

"For leaving him. I cognize she knew helium was successful the car," she responded.

Records uncover Romero's humor intoxicant attraction was astir treble the ineligible bounds that night.

"Ms. Romero, unfortunately, this is not the archetypal clip you and I person had a treatment astir driving nether the power of alcohol," Judge Terrence told Romero anterior to her sentencing.

The justice had archetypal warned Romero astir the dangers of drunk driving successful 2021.

Romero had heard it again conscionable 19 days earlier the deadly clang erstwhile prosecutors accidental constabulary pulled her implicit successful Oakhurst.

"The citation from that DUI apprehension from Oakhurst was successful her conveyance astatine the clip erstwhile she was progressive successful that collision," said Deputy District Attorney Steven Ueltzen.

That citation allowed prosecutors to complaint her with murder.

Romero denied the complaint and others for years but conscionable past month, pleaded nary contest.

Her lawyer work her apology successful court.

"No words tin picture however shameful and remorseful I am. I americium genuinely atrocious for each the symptom I caused," work Romero's attorney.

Rodriguez's household wouldn't forgive Romero, saying she should inquire God instead.

"Every clip that compartment doorway slams unopen connected you, whitethorn it beryllium a reminder to you of what you did," said Esmeralda Rodriguez.

In the end, the justice told Romero that if she continued to portion and thrust aft her merchandise from situation and killed somebody, she could beryllium charged with execution again.

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