Long Sentence in Auto Deaths
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PALA — A 37-year-old Pala resident was sentenced to 12 years, 8 months in state prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence in the deaths of two other Pala residents while he was driving drunk last September.
George Machado was sentenced by Vista Superior Court Judge Anthony Joseph for the Sept. 16 crash that killed Emory Cripe, 71, and Betty Stratford, 57. Injured in the accident were their spouses, Vera Cripe and Lee Stratford.
Prosecutors said Machado, who had three previous convictions for drunk driving, had a blood-alcohol level of more than .23 when the accident occurred. A .10 blood-alcohol content is considered legally intoxicated.
Deputy District Atty. George McFetridge said the crash occurred when Machado lost control of his car, went off the shoulder of California 76 and turned back onto the road, crossing the center line and striking the victims’ vehicle head-on.
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