A driver in Albuquerque received a 45-day jail sentence for striking and killing a girl who was using a crosswalk near her school.
Revi Pexa, 71, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor careless driving charge in a court appearance Friday, KOB reported. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail, 45 days of probation and a $300 fine.
Pexa was driving an SUV when he struck and killed Eliza "Justine" Almuina, 12, in March 2018, KOB reported. Almuina was using the crosswalk but because it was after school hours, the school zone signal was not active, Albuquerque Police Department officials said. While one car stopped for Almuina, Pexa didn't, striking the girl and crashing his vehicle into a school property fence, KOB reported.
While Pexa apologized in court to the family and the incident was ruled an accident, the girl's mother, Jennie Aguirre, told KOB that she is "very disappointed" with the sentence, saying justice had not been served.
In explaining the sentencing rationale, a Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office spokesperson said that the evidence in the case did not support a vehicular homicide charge, which is what the family wanted. The spokesperson said Pexa was going 2 mph over the speed limit and swerved to avoid the car in front of him.
The incident prompted officials to review school crosswalk safety across the city, KOB reported.
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