DUI driver gets only six years in prison after killing a motorcycle rider in Santa Ana

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Mario Celestino Torres, a 30-year-old man, pleaded guilty on Monday and he was sentenced to only six years in prison for an alcohol-related DUI collision that killed Flor Mecon Granados, a 44-years-old Santa Ana resident who was riding a motorcycle.

Torres he rear-ended the motorcycle driven by Granados just before 3 a.m. on April 11, 2024, at S. Bristol Street and W. Segerstrom Avenue.

Torres was driving a 2024 Mazda. Both vehicles were northbound on Bristol Street at Segerstrom Avenue when Torres crashed his Mazda into the rear-end of the motorcycle, according to the SAPD.

Torres was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury with a sentencing enhancement for inflicting great bodily injury on the victim.

Torres pleaded not guilty at an initial hearing. This Monday he finally accepted the responsibility for what he did. Torres got 584 days credit for the time he spent behind bars since his arrest. That means he is actually going to serve about another four and a half years in prison. His victim, Granados, on the other hand, is gone forever.

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Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions.

When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.