Drunken driver asks families to forgive

Kim Smith

Monday, May 1, 2000 | 10:47 a.m.

A Las Vegas man responsible for killing two people in an Independence Day drunken-driving accident begged members of Stop DUI to get their message out to more people Friday as he was being sentenced.

Antonio Aguayo, 29, also pleaded for forgiveness from the families of Blanca Machado, 52, and Norma Machado, 24.

"I understand very well how I ruined your lives as well as my own and my children's," Aguayo said through an interpreter. "I have to live with that moment the rest of my life and I don't think it would matter if I spent 100 years in jail. I don't think I could leave this behind me.

"If I could, I would give my life for those two."

Aguayo pleaded guilty last month to two counts of driving under the influence resulting in substantial bodily harm or death and one count of leaving the scene of an accident.

Aguayo had the option of letting District Judge John McGroarty sentence him and risk a 55-year sentence or agreeing to a 10- to 30-year sentence. He agreed to the 10- to 30-year sentence.

According to police, Aguayo's pickup ran over a reinforced wall into a yard and hit a parked car that then struck three members of a family celebrating the Fourth of July.

Blanca Machado died at the scene and Norma Machado died several hours later. Erika Fernandez, a 12-year-old granddaughter of Blanca Machado, was severely injured, but has since recovered.

Ramon Quintanilla, Blanca Machado's son and Norma Machado's brother, told Aguayo that the lives of his family have forever been changed. He also said that while God is the only one who can judge Aguayo, he forgives him.