After about five hours of deliberation, a jury convicted a Chula Vista man Jan. 29 of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in the death of a motorcycle rider in 2017.
Toribio Martinez Sanchez, 30, was also convicted of driving with a measurable amount of blood/alcohol and a second drunk driving charge in the Nov. 28, 2017, death of Alexis Corona, 24.
Corona was on a motorcycle on Coronado Avenue in the South Bay at 7:10 p.m. when the car driven by Sanchez struck him as he crossed into the motorcyclist’s path on Thermal Avenue.
Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans said Sanchez faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.
Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Patricia Garcia set sentencing for March 8. Sanchez has been in jail since he was arrested by San Diego Police the day after the collision on $1 million bail.
The defense contested that Sanchez caused the collision and contended his blood/alcohol level was under .08, which is the amount for felony drunk driving.
The six man, six woman jury began deliberations Jan. 28 and convicted Sanchez of all charges after deliberating about five hours over two days. The trial began with jury selection on Jan. 14.
The victim’s family members attended the trial. Corona worked as a Uber driver.
In an interview days after his brother’s death, Dustin Rivera told KNSD (Channel 7) that his brother “loved riding that motorcycle.”
“He was always the guy that was having fun and smiling,” said Rivera in the interview. “I want him to be remembered as the guy who was always happy.”
