SANTA CRUZ—A Watsonville man already on probation for two DUI convictions was sentenced Tuesday to 20 years in prison for striking and killing a woman while driving drunk one year ago, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeff Rosell announced.
Alejandro Rocha Fernandez, 28, was drinking at a bar in Santa Cruz on June 5, 2019, and had a blood-alcohol level approaching three times the legal limit when he sped into an alleyway, striking and killing 55-year-old Diana Crotty. Fernandez fled on foot after the crash and was arrested a short time later by Santa Cruz Police officers.
At the time of the offense, Fernandez was on probation for two separate DUI cases in 2016 and 2018.
At the sentencing hearing, Crotty was remembered by her sister as a “loving, generous” person who had a great sense of humor and was an artist.
Fernandez did not make a statement.
He will be required to serve at least 85% of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.
“Fernandez’ decision to drive while impaired exhibited a conscious disregard for human life and the court held him appropriately responsible for that choice and its tragic consequences,” Assistant District Attorney Alex Byers said.
