Monterey County District Attorney Dean D. Flippo announced on
Thursday, June 7 that 23-year-old Nicanor De Jesus Sanchez of Greenfield pled
guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the
influence of alcohol causing injury and admitted causing great bodily injury to
multiple victims. Sanchez will be sentenced August 21, 2018 by Judge Julie Culver
and faces a possible sentence of 16 years in the California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation.
On February 11, 2017, Sanchez was driving with a blood
alcohol content of .23 and crashed his car thorough a road closure gate located
at the Elm Avenue bridge east of the City of Greenfield. Sanchez’s Honda Accord
spun out of control after crashing through the steel gate and collided with
three pedestrians. The pedestrians were crushed between the Sanchez’s car and a
steel guard
rail and were violently thrown into the Salinas River. Due
to an abnormally wet winter the Salinas River was flowing very rapidly and had
breached its banks flooding farmlands and roadways throughout the county. Despite
extensive wounds, two of the victims were able to struggle their way to the
riverbank. The third victim was carried downstream and his body has not been
recovered to this day despite multiple attempts by search and rescue teams as
well as friends and family.
Sanchez entered his plea during the third day of a jury
trial in this case. A Monterey County Jury had been sworn, opening statements
had been given and evidence was being presented when Sanchez elected to enter
his plea to all of the charges alleged.
This case was investigated by California Highway Patrol
Officer Ryan Denker, Monterey County Sheriff’s
Sergeant Michael Darlington and District Attorney Investigator Terri Edwards.
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