A motorcycle driver who caused his passenger’s death after driving while intoxicated in Chula Vista was sentenced Friday to 10 years in state prison.
A large number of the family and friends of Sarah Renee Alvarado, 27, of Chula Vista, attended the sentencing of Josue Juan Diaz, 39, by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Dwanye Moring on June 3. Several family members spoke of their loss. She had two children.
Alvarado, who also went by her maiden name of Sarah Mata, was killed Sept. 6, 2014, while as a passenger of Diaz. He crashed at 3:30 a.m. as he was exiting the E Street off-ramp on Interstate 5 in Chula Vista after he had been drinking.
Moring ordered Diaz to pay approximately $5,000 for the victim’s funeral. Diaz was given credit for serving 732 days in jail since the crash. Probation was ruled out. He pleaded guilty April 15 on the eve of trial.
A murder charge was dismissed. It had been filed against Diaz because he had two prior convictions for drunk driving in 2008 and 2014, said Deputy District Attorney Victor Ou. Diaz had been warned about the perils of drinking and driving. One of the prior incidents occurred in Chula Vista.
Diaz’s blood/alcohol level was .17, said Ou, which is twice the legal limit. According to testimony, several people with the victim and Diaz talked about meeting again at someone’s house in Chula Vista after the closing time came in the bar. He was taking her to that house when he crashed his motorcycle.
He was also injured, and he was arraigned in his hospital bed. He was later transferred to jail.
