GALVESTON, Texas – The man who hit and killed a family of four in a golf cart in Galveston while driving drunk was sentenced Thursday afternoon.
READ: Suspect in Galveston golf cart crash pleads guilty to drunk driving before trial
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Miguel Espinoza, 47, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday before opening statements.
READ: Trial for suspected drunken driver in Galveston golf cart crash underway
On Thursday, he was sentenced to 82 years in prison and fined $50,000. The judge agreed to stack Espinoza’s sentences, meaning he will serve each sentence consecutively.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In August 2022, Galveston police said Espinoza was under the influence of alcohol when he struck a golf cart at the intersection of Avenue R and 33rd Street around 11:30 p.m.
Police reported that a black Hyundai SUV was traveling eastbound on Avenue R when Espinoza, also driving a Hyundai SUV in the same direction, failed to stop at the intersection. He crashed into a golf cart and then into a northbound pickup truck, as well as a Dodge pickup truck traveling southbound.
READ: Family, friends react after 4 people killed in major crash involving suspected drunk driver
Six people, including three children, were in the golf cart at the time of the crash. One adult passenger died at the scene, while the rest were taken to a nearby hospital, where a second adult passenger and two children later died. A third adult passenger and a child were critically injured. The driver of the Dodge pickup truck and a child passenger sustained minor injuries and were later released, according to police.
Police identified two of the adult victims as Felipe Bentancur, 49, and Destiny Uvalle, 25. The minor victims were identified as 14-year-old Brailyn Cantu and 4-year-old Kaisyn Bentancur. Espinoza had a passenger in his vehicle who was treated and released.
Espinoza faced five felony charges, including involuntary manslaughter with a vehicle.
Shortly after the crash, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission agents arrested Gil Garcia, a bartender accused of overserving alcohol to Espinoza at a bar.
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