A 16-year jail term has been imposed on Keith Eric Jones, 48, of Des Moines, Iowa, in connection with a sad drag-racing accident that resulted in the death of a 4-year-old kid.
The ruling from the Iowa court, issued on Thursday, follows a jury’s verdict that found Jones culpable of multiple offenses, including vehicular homicide, driving while intoxicated, careless driving, and fleeing from the scene of an accident leading to a fatality.
This devastating incident, which occurred on December 13, 2022, led to the death of young Marcos Faguada and inflicted injuries upon his aunt, Mayra De Catalan.
The collision involved Jones and another individual, Robert Lee Miller III, who had previously received a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in the fatal wreck.
According to prosecutors, Jones and Miller had been drinking at a bar before engaging in a reckless race on a four-lane road.
Iowa Court’s Alert on Irresponsible Actions
Reports indicated that Miller’s vehicle reached a staggering speed of 108 mph, eventually crossing over a median and colliding with De Catalan’s car, where Marcos and De Catalan’s 8-year-old son were passengers. Tragically, young Marcos succumbed to his injuries at a hospital.
During the sentencing, Marcos’ grieving mother, Elva Galvan, emotionally recounted her son’s vibrant spirit, expressing how he loved dancing, sharing jokes, and adorning himself in superhero costumes.
Heartbroken by the loss of her beloved child, Galvan addressed Jones directly, stating, “As a mother, my heart is broken and I am forever marked because you took my son away from me. I am not the happy person that I used to be.”
In addition to the prison term, the Iowa court ordered Jones to pay $150,000 to Marcos’ family, a financial restitution intended to alleviate some of the immeasurable pain and suffering caused by the tragic loss.
The Iowa court’s decision serves as a potent reminder, underscoring the enduring and serious consequences stemming from irresponsible conduct. It emphasizes the profound and enduring impacts such actions can inflict on the lives of unassuming individuals and their grieving families.
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