A Hamilton man, identified as Leodegario Cruz-Ortiz, has been sentenced to a prison term ranging from 11 to 16.5 years for a drunk driving incident that resulted in the death of a famous DJ from the Cincinnati area. Cruz-Ortiz, who pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, will also face a lifetime suspension of his driving license.
As reported by Local12, the fatal crash occurred early in the morning on June 8, when Cruz-Ortiz crossed the center line on U.S. 127 near Harris Road and collided head-on with a car driven by Christopher VanZant of Fountain City, Indiana, also known as "DJ Sickness." In the wake of the incident, officials from the Butler County Sheriff’s Office believe Cruz-Ortiz was driving 80 mph despite being under the influence of alcohol.
The tragedy has brought to light Cruz-Ortiz's status in the United States, as he has been living in the country illegally and did not possess a valid driver’s license, as detailed by the sheriff's office in a statement obtained by FOX19. According to court documents, Cruz-Ortiz originated from Mexico and had settled in Hamilton.
In a sorrowful account, VanZant, known lovingly as "DJ Sickness," had just completed a gig at the Village Tavern in Montgomery before the collision that claimed his life. WLWT recalled that Cruz-Ortiz was traveling at speeds of 88 mph in a 55-mile-an-hour zone, and investigators noted a "strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath" at the scene of the crash. The loss of VanZant, a figure well-known in the Greater Cincinnati music scene, has resonated deeply within the community he served.
