California driver sentenced to 188 years for deadly 2023 DUI crash

In February 2023, Cameron Garcia spent the day drinking beside the Sacramento River before driving his Cadillac SUV at roughly 101 mph on River Road. The vehicle failed to brake around a curve, slammed into a tree, flipped, and the impact ejected all five passengers, who were later found dead in nearby yards and bushes. A Sacramento jury found Garcia guilty of five manslaughter counts, plus enhancements for fleeing police and using a deadly weapon.

He had previously pleaded guilty to evading officers after attempting to steal multiple vehicles during the chase. On September 4, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge James Arguelles sentenced him to 188 years to life in state prison. The victims were identified as Curvontay Swygert (16), Aahliya Garcia (17), Faith Samuel (18), Izabelle Salaz-Stephens (19) and Monte Nunn (29).