A motorcycle driver who caused the death of his passenger after driving while intoxicated in Chula Vista has pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Josue Juan Diaz, 39, faces 10 years in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Victor Ou on Friday in the death of Sarah Renee Alvarado, 27, of Chula Vista.
Alvarado, who was also known as Sarah Mata, was killed Sept. 6, 2014, crash when Diaz was exiting the E Street ramp off Interstate 5 in Chula Vista. Diaz has been drinking at a bar earlier and was giving her a ride when he crashed at 3:30 a.m.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Dwanye Moring set sentencing for June 3. The case was assigned to Moring for trial on April 15 and the attorneys reached a plea agreement in which Diaz agreed to accept the 10-year sentence.
A murder charge had been filed against Diaz because he had two prior convictions for drunk driving in 2008 and 2014, said Ou. Diaz had been warned about the perils of drinking and driving. One of the prior incidents occurred in Chula Vista.
Diaz’s blood alcohol level was .17, said Ou, which is twice the legal limit.
Several people talked about meeting again at someone’s house in Chula Vista after the bar’s closing time. Diaz was taking her to that house when he crashed his motorcycle.
He was also injured, and he was arraigned in his hospital bed by a judge who came to his hospital room. Diaz remains in the central jail on $1 million bail.
