On June 9, Santa Cruz County District Attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell announced that Alejandro Rocha Fernandez was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a hit-and-run driving-while-intoxicated (DUI) crash that killed Diana Crotty.
On June 5, 2019, shortly after 7 p.m., Fernandez, who had a blood alcohol level approaching three times the legal limit after drinking at a downtown Santa Cruz bar, sped his car into an alleyway, striking Crotty, who was pinned under the car and died of her injuries.
Fernandez fled on foot and was located and apprehended by Santa Cruz Police officers.
Fernandez was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter. At the time, he was on probation for driving while impaired offenses in 2016 and 2018.
Alejandro Fernandez
At the sentencing hearing Crotty, 55, was remembered by her sister as a “loving, generous” person who had a great sense of humor. Fernandez did not make a statement. Fernandez will be required to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole.
The prosecutor assigned to the case, Assistant District Attorney Alex Byers, said, “Fernandez’ decision to drive while impaired exhibited a conscious disregard for human life and the court held him appropriately responsible for that choice and its tragic consequences.”
Rosell added, “We (our office) feel that this sentence is appropriate and just, and the victim’s family can rest assured in knowing that justice has been served and the defendant will pay the consequences for his actions.”