Fatal Crash Brings Six-Year Term

A man who split a case of beer with his brother before speeding down Prairie Avenue in Hawthorne and causing an accident that killed a woman has been sentenced to six years in state prison.

Juan Camacho, 29, pleaded guilty in August to gross vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving in connection with the July 11 crash. The Modesto farm worker faced as much as 10 years in state prison.

Aljerriah Williams, 53, of Los Angeles burned to death when her 1984 Ford Thunderbird exploded after being rear-ended by Camacho’s car. Witnesses told police that Camacho was driving his 1978 Datsun more than 65 m.p.h. when he hit Williams’ car.

Camacho, whose blood-alcohol level of .19% was more than double the legal limit of .08%, suffered moderate injuries in the collision. His brother, Hector, who was a passenger in the car, was treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and then released.