A California man who attempted to throw several containers of alcohol out of his truck after colliding with another car, killing four people, was sentenced to prison.
Aleim Alavez, 25, pleaded guilty to four counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and received a 12-year prison sentence. On Tuesday, as he appeared in court to hear his sentence, Alavez apologized to the families of the four men he killed: 27-year-old Faruk Cetin, 23-year-old Mahsun Dursun, 27-year-old Abdurrezak Hizmali and 25-year-old Baris Savas.
According to courtroom reports from local CBS affiliate KFMB, Alavez was driving 108 mph when he collided with a Toyota Prius carrying four Turkish refugees.
KNSD, a local NBC affiliate, was also present in court and reported on additional information provided by prosecutors about the crash. According to prosecutors, the collision occurred around 1:30 a.m. on July 19, 2024, causing Alavez’s truck to flip upside down and the Prius carrying the four victims to veer off the road and crash. All four passengers died after being ejected from the vehicle.
Two of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, according to KNSD reporting at the time of the crash, and two more died later in the hospital. The victims’ families viewed Tuesday’s court proceedings remotely from Turkey.
Prosecutors said that after an onlooker pulled Alavez from his position in the wreck, he saw Alavez attempting to dispose of several alcohol containers by throwing them over a nearby bridge. Deputy District Attorney Spencer Sharpe stated in court, “Rather than render aid to any of those dying victims, this defendant decided to throw the alcohol containers that were all over his car over the freeway.”
Judge Marian Gaston of San Diego Superior Court noted that two hours after the crash, Alavez’s blood alcohol level was 0.16, which is twice the state’s legal limit. She also stated that Alavez appeared to be genuinely remorseful, telling the court, “The shame he feels is obvious.” It’s clear from him that he understands what a bad decision he made and how much he’s hurt others.”
Gaston sentenced Alavez to twelve years in state prison.
