Twenty-eight-year-old Jesus Suazo’s history of drunk driving has caught up with him for good and led him to a life sentence in jail. He was sentenced to 19-years-to-life in prison for killing a woman in a tragic DUI accident in Tulare, California.
Suazo’s sentence comes nearly a year after a Tulare County jury convicted him of several criminal charges:
- Second-degree murder
- Gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated
- DUI causing injury
- Fleeing the scene of an accident
- Misdemeanor driving on a suspended license
What Led to Life in Prison
The fatal crash occurred at approximately 1:15 a.m. on May 13, 2017. According to investigative reports, Suazo and his passenger were traveling southbound at 100 miles per hour when he inevitably lost control of his vehicle. As a result, he slammed into agricultural equipment at a nearby tractor company. The violent impact tore off the passenger door, and the woman occupant was ejected from the car.
A passerby discovered the accident three hours after its occurrence and called for help. When California Highway Patrol officers and emergency personnel arrived at the scene, they found the woman alone, deceased in the road. The victim was later identified as 27-year-old Ana Zuniga, a single mother of five.
Faced with a Life Sentence
Although Suazo selfishly fled the scene of the crime, he was found and arrested within 20 minutes of the crime’s discovery. According to authorities, he was attempting to hide in the cab of a nearby tractor. Suazo confessed to drinking and admitted that his family members warned him not to drive home from their family gathering. His blood-alcohol content was .14%, nearly twice the legal limit. Additionally, at the time of the crash, Suazo was still on probation for his prior DUI from 2014. As a result, prosecutors were able to charge him with the harshest DUI penalties which years later turned out to be a life sentence.
Five children are now without a mother due to reckless decision making. Driving after a night of drinking is not worth risking innocent lives. If you are ever intoxicated, opt for using a rideshare company like Uber or Lyft to ensure that you get home safely without endangering anyone in the process. We at the Law Offices of Taylor & Taylor encourage you to make the safe decision.
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