Local News in Brief : Sylmar Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal Crash
A Sylmar man on Monday pleaded guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving in a crash that caused the death of his cousin last year in Sepulveda.
Sergio Silva, 25, ran a red light and struck a pickup truck early on Sept. 3 at the intersection of Balboa Boulevard and Parthenia Street, prosecutors said. His cousin, Antonio Pisano, 22, of San Fernando, who was a passenger in the car, died 13 days later.
Silva, a second passenger and the driver of the pickup sustained minor injuries, authorities said.
Silva’s blood-alcohol level was measured after the crash at 0.25%, more than twice the state’s legal standard for drunkenness of 0.10%. Silva was originally charged with murder. That charge was dismissed in exchange for his guilty plea to the lesser charge.
Silva could be sentenced to a maximum of 11 years and eight months in prison. Sentencing is scheduled Feb. 21 in Van Nuys by Superior Court Judge Alan B. Haber.
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