Henry Aparicio, aged 23, was accused of a DUI crash back in May that killed a husband and a wife in Las Vegas. Prosecutors say that Aparicio was speeding on Sahara when his Mercedes-Benz C250 slammed into the back of a Toyota Prius at Hualapai Way, killing 39-year-old Damaso Puente and 33-year-old Christa Puente.
Christia Puente’s father, Daniel Malone, was weeping as he told District Judge Cristina Silva that his “pain never ceases.” He recalled the phone call he received telling him that a drunk driver had killed his daughter and her husband. Experienced Las Vegas DUI lawyers say that tragic circumstances like these are common in DUI crashes.
What Are the Details of the DUI?
It was reported that Aparicio’s blood-alcohol level was about four times the legal limit at the time of the crash. He had been driving over 90 miles per hour on a street that had a speed limit of 45 miles per hour. When Judge Cristina Silva handed down the sentence, she addressed Aparicio’s “egregious choices.” She mandated that he would not be eligible for parole until he had served at least 15 years of his sentence. Aparicio pleaded guilty to two counts of driving under the influence resulting in death; he also pleaded guilty to one count of reckless driving.
“I feel so much guilt,” Aparicio said in court. “I’ve never felt so horrible about anything in my life.”
A Tragic Loss For the Family
After he spoke, Christa Puente’s mother, Diane Malone, crying as she recalled her daughter’s sweet disposition and caring ways as an oncology nurse. “She was always the most kind-hearted, sensitive person I have ever known. She radiated love and compassion.”
And now, she’s an angel.
Another Tragic DUI Case Results in Death
This case is, sadly, one of many DUI cases in Nevada each year. In another recent Las Vegas Valley case, Gabriel Haas – aged 32 – crashed his Tesla Model 3 and is now facing five counts of reckless driving and DUI resulting in death.
Police say that Haas ran a red light on Cheyenne before crashing his car into a Honda CRV as it turned onto Soft Breezes Drive at the intersection. Six people, including Haas, were injured in the crash. The 70-year-old driver of the Honda was brought to the hospital with critical injuries; a 62-year-old woman in the passenger seat died.
During the crash, the Tesla barreled into the corner of the intersection where four men were sitting on a retaining wall. One of the men was hospitalized with critical injuries while two others suffered less-severe injuries; one man, luckily, left the scene uninjured.
After Haas was taken to University Medical Center to treat his injuries, he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center.
Las Vegas DUI Task Force Stays Busy
To crack down on negligent drivers, a DUI task force has been constructed to patrol and crack down on drivers who are potentially driving under the influence. These efforts began last October, and the DUI task force made their 1,000 arrest recently.
The team is comprised of three Nevada Highway Patrol troopers and five Las Vegas Metro Police Department officers. The patrol is typically on the road during hours when drunk drivers are most likely to be driving.
Safe driving to everyone.