A Sacramento jury has convicted Cameron Garcia on Wednesday of five counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, carjacking, and fleeing the scene of a crash. The case centers on a catastrophic collision that occurred on February 9, 2023, on River Road near the Freeport Bridge. Garcia was traveling at 101 miles per hour when he drove off the road, hit a tree, and caused the vehicle to flip 180 degrees. All five passengers died at the scene: Curvontay Swygert (16), Aahliya Garcia (17), Faith Samuel (18), Izabelle Salaz-Stephens (19), and Monte Nunn (29).
Blood tests revealed that Garcia had a blood alcohol content of 0.11%, which is above California’s legal limit of 0.08%, plus active marijuana in his system. He had spent the day drinking at the American River before getting behind the wheel. In an act that compounded the tragedy, Garcia did not remain at the crash scene. Instead, he carjacked a nearby woman’s vehicle at gunpoint and led authorities on a high-speed chase across multiple jurisdictions, eventually captured in Elk Grove with helicopters assisting law enforcement.
The conviction carries a sentence of 181 years to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for August 19, 2026. This case stands as a sobering reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving and the importance of making safe choices when substances are involved. What are your thoughts on how this tragedy impacts road safety conversations in our community?
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Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
