Man Gets 60 Years to Life in 1996 Fatal Car Crash

A judge sentenced a Buena Park man Friday to 60 years to life in prison for a high-speed crash on Christmas Eve 1996 that killed four people--including a pregnant woman and her unborn child.

Oscar Rodriguez, 19, was fleeing from police when the car he was driving about 80 mph collided with a car occupied by two sisters, both of whom were killed instantly. A 14-year-old passenger in Rodriguez’s car also was killed.

Rodriguez, who had taken methamphetamines, ran a red light in Anaheim in a chase that began after police in Cypress tried to stop him for driving erratically.

Prosecutor Dan McNerney had asked for the maximum possible sentence of 120 years to life, describing the incident as “traffic collision murder.”

“He’s a gang member with a history of drugs and criminal activity,” McNerney said. “We’re a lot safer knowing he’s not going to be on the streets anymore.”

A jury in June convicted Rodriguez on four murder counts. Deputy Public Defender Dennis Sakai argued during the trial that his client should be convicted of manslaughter because he never intended to harm anyone. He said Friday that the case will be appealed.

Sakai had sought a sentence of 15 years to life for Rodriguez, who he said is very remorseful. He said his client had a minor juvenile record and was not a violent gang member nor the “predator of society” portrayed in court.

“He suffers from severe pain and guilt over what he’s done to the victims in this case--every day and every night,” Sakai said. “It’s just a tragedy.”

Sisters Lizett Quinonez, 22, and Claudia Quinonez, 16, were on their way home from getting a late-night snack when their car was broadsided. The older sister was three months pregnant and the unborn baby accounted for one of the murder charges.

Her fiancee, 28-year-old Mario Zavala, attended the sentencing. Outside the courtroom, he reflected on the tragedy.

“When this happened, I lost a lot,” he said. “It was going to be my first baby. There’s not one day I don’t think about them. I still cry.”

Zavala said it didn’t matter much to him what kind of sentence Rodriguez received because “it won’t bring them back.”

“When he took away those four lives, he took away his own life too,” he said.