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Published on February 21, 2024
South San Francisco Man Sentenced to Four Years for Fatal DUI Crash That Killed Teen PassengerSource: Google Street View

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.

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.