A California man has been handed a decades-long prison sentence for a drunk driving crash that wiped out three women who were returning home from a baby shower.
On Thursday, 37-year-old Victor Siharath was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison after pleading no contest to three counts of second-degree murder and DUI causing injury, according to multiple local outlets including KTTV.
The devastating crash happened on March 2, 2024, around 11 p.m. Pomona police say three women — 33-year-old Yesenia Ochoa Olaez, 58-year-old Lorena Morales, and 33-year-old Alejandra Olaez — were killed instantly when Siharath’s SUV ran a red light and T-boned their car. The impact, caught on video by ABC7, shows the victims’ sedan spinning out of control as metal twisted on impact.
Two other family members were also in the vehicle: Morales’ husband and Alejandra Olaez’s 12-year-old daughter. Both were rushed to the hospital with serious injuries but survived.
Prosecutors revealed that Siharath was drunk, speeding well above the posted 35 mph limit, and had a prior DUI conviction from 2014. At that time, he was explicitly warned that if he ever drove drunk again and killed someone, he could face murder charges.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón condemned the senseless loss of life. “There are no words to express the heartbreak that Mr. Siharath’s actions have caused these victims’ families and community,” he said in a statement. “Our hearts go out to the grieving families and the survivors as they attempt to cope with this unimaginable tragedy.”
Family members described the cruel irony of the crash happening the night of a baby shower celebration. “This is a terrible tragedy … of innocent people … we’re doing a celebration of new life, and we just want justice for our family, for the children that were left behind,” said Cindy Ramos, cousin of victim Yesenia Ochoa Olaez.
Well, the judge in the first case can blame himself for these 3 deaths. His comment about “if he ever drove drunk again and killed someone” wouldn’t have happened if that judge had done his job and put this murderer behind bars for good the first time. Why does someone always have to die before these drunks are put away forever. Everyone knows a drunk will never stop driving drunk.
I have no sympathy for people who drink and drive.I call this premeditated murder