Ricki Newton, a 24-year-old Oxnard resident, has been sentenced to two years in state prison after pleading guilty to one felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter.
On August 13, 2023, prosecutors say Newton was racing a friend on Highway 101 at approximately 113 miles per hour. She lost control of her car and collided with another vehicle, which was forced off an embankment.
A passenger who was ejected from that vehicle died at the scene. Santa Paula resident, Louis Hernandez Jr., 77, was described as a loving son, father, and uncle by his family at the sentencing.
“This is a reminder that a brief bad decision involving reckless driving can have tragic and life-altering consequences,” said Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch.
The District Attorney’s Office requested Newton be sentenced to state prison, while the defense counsel called for felony probation. The sentencing was imposed by Superior Court Judge Von Deroian in Department 11.
