ESCONDIDO, Calif. — A 22-year-old man has been sentenced to more than 12 years in prison after a deadly drunk driving crash that claimed the life of a 13-year-old boy.
Alexander Tito Oroz was sentenced to 12 years and eight months in state prison after pleading guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, along with additional charges tied to the April 27, 2024, crash that killed Rodrigo Tapia Jr.
Prosecutors said Oroz was driving करीब 120 mph when he ran a red light at the intersection of North Broadway and Country Club Lane, causing the fatal collision.
In addition to manslaughter, Oroz pleaded guilty to DUI causing injury and driving under the influence while under the legal drinking age, as he was 20 at the time of the crash.
Rodrigo Tapia Jr., a student at Quantum Academy in Escondido, was riding in the vehicle with Oroz. The victim was the younger brother of Oroz’s girlfriend. His sister, who was also in the car, suffered injuries but survived.
During the sentencing hearing, family members and friends remembered the teen as a bright and ambitious student with aspirations of becoming a professional baseball player or joining the Navy. Loved ones described him as kind, selfless, and deeply loved by those around him.
His mother, Norma Tapia, shared that her son—affectionately called “Junior”—had a warm personality and close bond with his family. She recalled that both he and his sister had urged Oroz to slow down on the night of the crash, but their warnings were ignored.
Emotional statements were also delivered by the victim’s father and siblings, who spoke about the profound loss and lasting grief caused by the tragedy. A teacher described the boy as someone with “big dreams” and a future full of promise.
Oroz did not address the court during the hearing. Judge Daniel Link noted the devastating consequences of impaired driving, calling it part of a broader and ongoing issue affecting communities nationwide.
While acknowledging that no sentence could undo the loss, the judge expressed hope that Oroz would reflect on his actions and seek personal accountability during his time in prison.
