SALINAS, California- Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni announced on Thursday, April 11 that 32-year-old David Merino Ramirez of Soledad was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison after a jury in February convicted him of Murder and Vehicular Manslaughter. Judge Rafael Vasquez
imposed the sentence.
On August 21, 2020, around 9:00 p.m., Ramirez was driving northbound at speeds exceeding
80mph on Metz Road between the cities of Greenfield and Soledad. Due to his excessive speed and
level of intoxication Ramirez lost control, striking a dirt embankment and flipping his car upside
down. His passenger 26-year-old Noe Santillan was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash by first
responders.
California Highway Patrol Officers arrived on the scene shortly after the crash. After conducting a
series of field sobriety tests police determined that Ramirez was under the influence of alcohol. A
subsequent breath test showed that he had a blood alcohol level of .17, over twice the legal limit.
Jurors also heard that Ramirez had suffered 2 prior convictions for driving under the influence, in
2015 and 2019. They also heard that when he was sentenced on those cases, he was warned that
operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol is inherently dangerous to human life, and
that should he continue to do so and a person were killed, he could be charged with murder.
This case was investigated by the California Highway Patrol and prosecuted by the Monterey
County District Attorney’s Office specialized DUI Vertical Prosecution Unit. Funding for this
program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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