Man gets 30 years to life in prison for DUI crash that killed 4 in Santa Ana

SANTA ANA — A 33-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years to life in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed four people in Santa Ana.

Vincent Michael Calvo pleaded guilty March 28 to four counts of second-degree murder.

According to the criminal complaint, Calvo’s blood-alcohol level was measured at 0.29 — more than three times the legal limit.

Killed in the Feb. 17, 2019, two-vehicle collision were 31-year-old Jose Alberto Avila-Rosas — the driver of the other vehicle — and his passengers, 23-year-old Zimoara Zaragoza of Garden Grove, 23-year-old Antonio Alonso Santibanez of Orange and 34-year-old Prisma Yuliana Montoya of Santa Ana.

Calvo was behind the wheel of a Jeep that was westbound on Fourth Street when it collided with a southbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup at Tustin Avenue, police said. Investigators said he failed to stop for a red light at the intersection.

Both vehicles in the collision flipped over multiple times, police said.

Calvo got out of the Jeep at the same time an off-duty firefighter and his wife, who is a nurse, stopped to try to help the victims, who were trapped in the pickup, which caught fire, police said. All four were pronounced dead at the scene.

The firefighter was able to put out the flames and his wife rendered aid to Calvo, who was the lone occupant of the Jeep.

Police said Calvo, who appeared to be “extremely impaired,” was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated and released into police custody.

About the Author

Yosi Yahoudai is a founder and the managing partner of J&Y. His practice is comprised primarily of cases involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, but he also represents people in premises liability lawsuits, including suits alleging dangerous conditions of public property, third-party criminal conduct, and intentional torts. He also has expertise in cases involving product defects, dog bites, elder abuse, and sexual assault. He earned his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California and is admitted to practice in all California State Courts, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact Yosi by clicking here.

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