Man Sentenced in Fatal Drunk-Driving Crash
A 24-year-old Encino man was sentenced Tuesday in Van Nuys Superior Court to 15 years to life in prison for the drunk-driving death of another motorist in Sun Valley in April.
Luis Talamantes, who told authorities he migrated to Los Angeles from Mexico City in 1989, was convicted of second-degree murder by a jury in June.
Talamantes had a blood-alcohol level of 0.32%--four times the legal limit--when he crashed his car into a vehicle driven by Todd Makowsky, Deputy Dist. Atty. Teri M. Hutchison said.
Makowsky, 24, died almost immediately from injuries suffered in the 1:35 a.m. crash at San Fernando Road and Sunland Boulevard, police said.
Police said Talamantes was traveling about 50 m.p.h. without his lights on when the accident occurred.
Judge James M. Coleman, in refusing a defense request to lower the charge to manslaughter, noted that Talamantes had two other drunk-driving convictions in the 19 months prior to his arrest April 9 at the crash site.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
