VISTA -
A drunken driver who was fleeing from police when he
caused a head-on crash near Fallbrook, killing a 27-year-old man, was sentenced
Thursday to 17 years and eight months in state prison.
Silverio Morales Romero, 24, of Vista, pleaded guilty last month to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and evading officers with reckless driving in connection with the crash last April 19 that killed Douglas Tarry of Moreno Valley.
Romero's severed left leg was found in a field next to the smashed vehicles on state Route 76.
According to court testimony, Romero's blood-alcohol level was measured at .18 percent after the accident.
The defendant, driving a 2001 Ford Explorer, was pulled over about 7 p.m. for speeding on southbound Interstate 15. During the traffic stop, Romero suddenly sped off, fleeing at speeds of more than 100 mph and veering between all lanes and the right shoulder of the freeway.
About seven miles to the south, Romero merged onto state Route 76 in the Pala Mesa Village area and headed west.
A short time later, the Explorer crossed over a set of double yellow lines and into an eastbound lane, where the SUV collided head-on with a 1999 Toyota Tacoma driven by Tarry.
The suspect continued driving the wrong way for a short time before his SUV collided with an oncoming 2004 Ford F-350 truck. The Explorer then overturned and tumbled down an embankment.
The driver of the Ford truck, James Riley of Barstow, suffered minor injuries.
The crashes forced an 8 1/2-hour closure of state Route 76
Silverio Morales Romero, 24, of Vista, pleaded guilty last month to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and evading officers with reckless driving in connection with the crash last April 19 that killed Douglas Tarry of Moreno Valley.
Romero's severed left leg was found in a field next to the smashed vehicles on state Route 76.
According to court testimony, Romero's blood-alcohol level was measured at .18 percent after the accident.
The defendant, driving a 2001 Ford Explorer, was pulled over about 7 p.m. for speeding on southbound Interstate 15. During the traffic stop, Romero suddenly sped off, fleeing at speeds of more than 100 mph and veering between all lanes and the right shoulder of the freeway.
About seven miles to the south, Romero merged onto state Route 76 in the Pala Mesa Village area and headed west.
A short time later, the Explorer crossed over a set of double yellow lines and into an eastbound lane, where the SUV collided head-on with a 1999 Toyota Tacoma driven by Tarry.
The suspect continued driving the wrong way for a short time before his SUV collided with an oncoming 2004 Ford F-350 truck. The Explorer then overturned and tumbled down an embankment.
The driver of the Ford truck, James Riley of Barstow, suffered minor injuries.
The crashes forced an 8 1/2-hour closure of state Route 76
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
