Drunken driver gets 25-year sentence for killing toddler

Tuesday, May 16, 2000 | 10:21 a.m.

Gerardo Vazquez-Peregrina pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and leaving the scene of the Dec. 18 accident that killed 23-month old Bryce Poe.

He was sentenced Monday by Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer.

Authorities said Vazquez-Peregrina had a blood-alcohol level of 0.248 at the time of the accident, more than double the legal threshold of 0.10 that constitutes driving under the influence in Nevada.

In a statement read by his lawyer, Vazquez-Peregrina asked the boy's family and God for forgiveness.

The child's mother told the court that while she's never held a grudge against anyone, she will never be able to forgive him.

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