Las Vegas Drunk Driver Sentenced After Deadly Car Accident

A drunk driver who caused a crash claiming the life of one person and significantly injuring another in Las Vegas is going to prison. The heartbreaking accident dates back to March last year, when the driver, identified with ithe nitials C.H., was speeding down Las Vegas Boulevard going 140 miles per hour before hitting another car.

Intoxicated Driver Goes to Prison for a Sentence Between Four and 12 Years

The 29-year-old man pleaded guilty to one charge of driving under the influence (DUI) resulting in death back in November. Per the guilty plea, prosecutors couldn’t recommend a sentence. However, the drunk driver was facing between two and a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Last week, C.H. received a sentence of between four and 12 years in prison by Clark County District Court Judge Bita Yeager. Handing the sentence, the Judge said: “I don’t think that this is the type of case where the minimums are appropriate,” as reported by KLAS.

The Judge also pointed to the speed, 140 miles-per-hour, with which the young man was going down Las Vegas Boulevard road. Yaeger said that such a speed isn’t easy to forget and definitely stands out when it comes to DUI cases.

Generally speaking, the penalty for DUI in Nevada depends on whether or not the person has previous convictions and their blood alcohol content. First-time offenders may get off easy by serving community labor, days or months in prison as well as paying fines and undergoing license suspension.

However, second-time offenses carry heftier fines and more jail time, as well as rehabilitation and one-year driver’s license suspension. Subsequent offenses or cases with high blood alcohol content can be subject to imprisonment between one and six years.

The Drunk Driver Apologized for His Cations

In contrast to DUI, DUI that results in death is seen as a category B felony, subject to imprisonment of up to 20 years maximum, a fine, license revocation of up to three years, as well as requirement for an ignition interlock device for a period of one to three years.

In court, ahead of his sentencing, the 29-year-old drunk driver said: “I messed up. I wish I could take every back, but I know I can’t.” Besides the prison sentence between four and 12 years, C.H. was ordered to pay $9,900 in restitution. Once he is out of prison, the man can drive a car only if there is an interlock device installed. Such devices are used to prevent drivers from starting their vehicles when intoxicated.

The car hit by the drunk driver was driven by a 38-year-old man. The victim, identified with the initials L.C. was from Guatemala and worked as a chef. His Hyundai Accent was cut in half after the drunk driver’s Dodge Challenger went down the road, hitting him at a speed close to 130 miles per hour. The 38-year-old victim passed away from the crash while a passenger in his car was injured too.