Driver Gets 10 Years for Death Captured on Tape

After hearing two hours of emotional testimony, a judge Tuesday sentenced Danny David Ornelas, 19, to 10 years in prison for running down and killing a Newport Beach mother of three while a passenger inadvertently videotaped the incident.

“It is with a heavy heart that I do this, Mr. Ornelas, but I must do what I must do,” said Orange County Superior Court Judge Luis A. Cardenas.

Ornelas was convicted by a jury March 20 of gross vehicular manslaughter in the death of Debbie Killelea, 37, in an alley behind her Balboa Peninsula home. Two young sons, who were with her, narrowly escaped injury.

Ornelas was found to have a blood alcohol content of .18 at the time of the Sept. 1 incident, almost twice the level at which a person is considered to be intoxicated.

The crime drew wide interest, largely because of an eerie videotape made by a passenger in the speeding car. The videotape showed Killelea trying to run out of the car’s way as it bore down on her.

Ornelas, who did not testify at his trial, told the judge Tuesday that he was sorry for the incident, which he described as “tragic.” Ornelas, who appeared to be weeping, said he would do everything he could to try to make up for the offense.

The victim’s husband, Brian Killelea, 40, testified that his family had been “devastated” by the tragedy.

“I am not a vindictive person; however, I represent the American family, and all I want is justice served,” Killelea said. He broke into tears on the witness stand as he spoke about his wife’s death.

Ornelas, of Huntington Park, was charged with second-degree murder in Killelea’s death, based on the allegation that he did not brake the speeding car, despite seeing Debbie Killelea and her two sons walking in the narrow roadway.

After five days of deliberation, the jury convicted Ornelas of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Had Ornelas been convicted of second-degree murder, he could have been sentenced to up to life in prison.

Ornelas will be eligible for parole in about five years.