Drunken driver gets prison for deadly Va. crash

CULPEPER, Va. (AP) — A drunken driver who crossed the center line and killed a 20-year-old Culpeper woman and her unborn child has been sentenced to nearly 24 years in prison.

Orlando Cruz was convicted in March in the September 2012 death of Zulma Alvarez. She was nine months pregnant.

Thursday, 38-year-old Cruz was sentenced to prison for involuntary manslaughter and aggravated homicide, among other charges, according to media reports. A judge sentenced him to 20 years on each count. Ten years of each sentence was suspended.

A tearful Cruz apologized to the Alvarez family and blamed alcohol for the deadly crash.

Cruz has been in jail since the crash.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up