The man who killed an 18-year-old Cal State Bakersfield in a drunken wreck has been sentenced to six years in prison, according to KGET.com.
Last month, Francisco Nestor Santo, of Arvin, pleaded no contest to a charge of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, according to court records. He had faced up to 10 years in prison.
According to the California Highway Patrol, Santo crashed into two vehicles while driving drunk Feb. 8 on Highway 223 east of Vineland Road. One of the cars, a 2000 Hyundai, was driven by Perez, who was killed. The driver of the other car involved was not hurt.
Noemi Perez, who was an outstanding student athlete at Arvin High and getting ready for her freshman season on the Cal State Bakersfield track team.
"She was going to make something of herself," CSUB assistant track coach Robert Boyles said shortly after her death. "She was just a sweet, nice young lady who always had a friendly, happy smile."
At Arvin High, Perez competed in track, volleyball, basketball and softball.
She graduated last spring and was named Arvin High's outstanding female athlete her senior year.
She helped Arvin win South Sequoia League titles in volleyball and basketball and was voted most inspirational athlete in volleyball, basketball and track. Her goal was to become a high school teacher.
Perez is the second CSUB athlete from Arvin killed in an automobile accident in recent years.
Jorge Jimenez, The Californian's All-Area Boys Soccer Player of the Year in 2003, was killed in a single-vehicle accident during his freshman year at CSUB.
