via: LADA: 11/6/14:
A 51-year-old man accused of killing a car passenger while driving drunk pleaded no contest today, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Jacob Garcia Jr. (dob 6/10/63) of Pomona pleaded no contest to one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in case GA082043.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Cathryn F. Brougham scheduled sentencing and restitution for Feb. 5, 2015, in Department 4 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Alhambra Branch.
Under the terms of the negotiated plea, Garcia is expected to be sentenced to 13 years in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Kevin Keeland.
The prosecutor said in the early morning of Dec. 16, 2010, Garcia was driving drunk on the 10 Freeway during a rainstorm. There were five passengers in the car, including the victim, Maria Faith Soloman, 21.
At some point, Garcia hydroplaned and crashed into the back of a tractor located in a freeway construction area, the prosecutor said. Soloman died from her injuries, while two other passengers sustained trauma from the car wreck.
Soon after the collision, authorities arrived and arrested Garcia. It was determined after the crash that Garcia had a blood alcohol level of .08%, the prosecutor added.
The case was investigated by the California Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
LA Law Guy 