Angel DeJesus Castro, a 19-year-old from South San Francisco, was handed a four-year state prison sentence for his role in a fatal DUI crash that left his passenger dead, announced the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office. Castro, who pleaded no contest last November, faced a requested six-year term by prosecutors for the incident that transpired in November 2022. However, the court ultimately settled on a lighter sentence.

The grim details, sourced from the SanMateoCoDA X account, tell a tale of a young man whose intoxication led to tragedy – Castro, whose blood alcohol content was registered at .12, crashed into two telephone poles killing his 18-year-old passenger Salvador Guillen Avila, the crash not only took a life but sparked a community to rally in memory of the deceased the local community consoled itself by establishing a GoFundMe to honor Avila, raising upwards of $12,000 as reported by KRON4 News.

Angel DeJesus Castro (19) sentenced to 4 yrs state prison for a drunken crash in Nov '22 when he struck two telephone poles and killed his passenger. Our office sought a 6 yr sentence following his no contest plea in Nov of last year. pic.twitter.com/NQo2JlISk1

— San Mateo County District Attorney (@SanMateoCoDA) February 21, 2024

At the scene, investigators found not just evidence of alcohol consumption but also empty beer cans, a partially empty bottle of tequila, a vape pen, and marijuana in the wreckage, illustrating a reckless disregard for the sanctity of the roadway and the safety of others. Castro's lack of a driver's license only added to the prosecutors' case against him, which painted a picture of negligence and unlawful behavior.