FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case # 16NF1182
Date: Aug. 29, 2018
MAN CONVICTED OF VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER AND CAUSING GREAT BODILY INJURY WHILE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted yesterday of vehicular manslaughter and causing great bodily injury while driving under the influence of alcohol.
|
Defendant |
Charges |
Maximum Sentence |
Court Date |
|
Steven Gerard Cruz, 34, Cerritos |
Found guilty by a jury Aug. 28, 2018 on the following felony counts:
Sentencing Enhancements:
|
12 years and eight months in state prison |
Sentencing
Sept. 20, 2018, 1:30 p.m.
Department C-36, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana |
Circumstances of the Case
- On May 10, 2015, Cruz was driving east on Orangethorpe Avenue in Buena Park while under the influence of alcohol with a blood alcohol content of .08 percent or more.
- At an intersection, the defendant accelerated through a yellow light and crashed into the driver’s side of a Toyota Avalon.
- John Doe, the driver of the Toyota Avalon, was transported by ambulance to UCI Medical Center where he later died of his injuries.
- Cruz also caused great bodily injury to Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2, who were John Doe’s passengers.
- Buena Park Police Department (BPPD), who investigated this case, found that the defendant had a blood alcohol content of 0.11 percent at the scene.
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Daniel Feldman, Homicide Unit