DUI driver gets 12 years in fatal crash

Kim Smith

Tuesday, July 3, 2001 | 9:31 a.m.

Moments after sobbing that he wishes it had been he who had been killed, a 20-year-old man was sentenced to three to 12 years in prison Monday.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure sentenced Jesus Felix Perez in connection with a Feb. 12 accident that claimed the life of Raquel Grajeda, 32, and seriously injured three others.

Deputy District Attorney Mary Brown said Perez had nearly twice the legal limit of alcohol in his blood when he struck Grajeda's vehicle head-on near Boulder City on U.S. 95.

Bonaventure sentenced Perez after listening to the highly emotional testimony of Grajeda's parent and a sister. He also heard from Jessica Rodriguez, 22, and her sister, Lillian Rodriguez.

Jessica Rodriguez's neck and hip were broken in the accident along with various bones in one of her legs. Her 2-year-old son's leg was also broken and he suffered facial injuries that left permanent scars.

A 15-year-old girl also received head and neck injuries in the incident, Brown said.

Grajeda, who lived near Yuma, Ariz., was on her way to Las Vegas with two vehicles filled with family members in anticipation of a marriage proposal.

The vehicle traveling in front of her was able to swerve out of Perez's way, but Grajeda had no time to react, Brown said.