PORTLAND — A 24-year-old driver who was going 75 mph in a 40 mph zone seconds before he plowed into a Southeast Portland pedestrian and killed him was sentenced Monday to 1 3/4 years in prison.
Israel Aldama-Sanchez killed Corry Deshawn Simmons, 37, on March 9 and then ran some red lights before disappearing. Aldama, however, turned himself in about 5 1/2 hours after the March 9 crash, which occurred at Southeast 151st and Stark Street.
Simmons was crossing the street, but not in a crosswalk.
At Monday’s hearing, Multnomah County Circuit Judge Eric Bloch told Aldama-Sanchez that he had been doing what a lot of people do: Speeding. The judge said Aldama-Sanchez probably thought he could get away with it because it was late at night, the judge said.
It was 11:19 p.m. on a Tuesday.
Despite those foolish decisions, the judge commended Aldama-Sanchez for telling police what he’d done.
Deputy District Attorney Laura Rowan said police had no license plate and few leads in identifying Aldama-Sanchez.
“He could have gotten away with it,” Rowan said.
Rowan said the computer in Aldama-Sanchez’s car said he was going 75 mph five seconds before the crash, and that he appeared to have seen Simmons because he slammed on the brakes just before impact. But because Aldama-Sanchez was driving so fast, he had only slowed to 59 mph when he struck Simmons, Rowan said.
Court papers state that Aldama-Sanchez initially planned on fixing up his damaged car to get away with the crime. But then he thought better of it.
Rowan said investigators took a blood sample shortly after Aldama-Sanchez gave himself up and found no alcohol or drugs in his system.
Simmons’ has a sister who lives out of state, Rowan said. The sister didn’t attend Monday’s hearing.
Aldama-Sanchez pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide. Oregon sentencing guidelines called for a prison term of 21 to 22 months.
Aldama-Sanchez had been released from jail after his arrest, and was caught driving after he’d been ordered not to. That prompted prosecutors to turn down a plea deal offer from Aldama-Sanchez for less prison time than the standard. Aldama-Sanchez then agreed to accept 21 months.
In addition to the prison time, the judge ordered a lifetime driver’s license suspension for Aldama-Sanchez.
“I am remorseful,” Aldama-Sanchez told the judge. “I do regret going that fast. …Unfortunately it happened this way. I can’t take it back, you know.”
