MEINERS OAKS : Man Gets 32 Months in Fatal Car Crash

A Meiners Oaks man with a history of driving drunk was sentenced Thursday to 32 months in prison for smashing his car into an approaching vehicle on California 33 in February and killing a 6-year-old Oxnard boy.

Edmund Castro pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and felony drunk driving in May. The sentence was handed down by Ventura County Superior Court Judge Charles R. McGrath.

Castro, a 34-year-old professional speedway racer nicknamed “Fast Eddie,” had a 0.13% blood-alcohol levelwhen his car crossed into the oncoming lane and struck a vehicle carrying five people, including Sergio Ramirez, 6, authorities said. The state’s blood-alcohol limit is 0.08%.

Sergio, who had been riding in the back seat, suffered major head injuriesand died later at Ojai Community Hospital.

“The cold, hard, cruel fact is this gentleman has been making these choices for a long, long time,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Donna K. Gissing told the judge, urging a prison term of four years and eight months.

Referring to two prior drunk-driving-related convictions, Gissing added, “He’s had his wake-up calls.”

Castro’s lawyer, Deputy Public Defender Bryant J. Fitzpatrick, acknowledged that his client had an alcohol problem but said he has stopped drinking and has taken responsibility for the crash and Sergio’s death. Fitzpatrick disputed a probation report that accused Castro of blaming the crash on mechanical defects, wind gusts and the victims.

“He pled guilty; that’s not an excuse,” the defense lawyer said.

After the hearing, Sergio’s mother, Clara Servin, said she was glad to have the case completed. “I feel that he should have gone to prison for life, even though that won’t bring back Sergio,” said Servin, flanked by her two surviving sons, Charles, 11, and Daniel, 9.