14 Year Prison Sentence for Driver in Fatal Marijuana DUI Crash

Published on April 04, 2025

Today, on April 4, 2025, Antonio de Jesus Orozco Montes Deoca (30, of Fresno) was sentenced to fourteen years and eight months in state prison for the crimes of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of drugs causing great bodily injury to four other victims following his plea to the charges on March 6, 2025. The sentence was handed down by the Honorable Judge Gabriel Brickey of the Fresno County Superior Court.

On September 17, 2022, Deoca was driving on State Route 180 near the City of Kerman when he crossed over the double-yellow lines and into oncoming traffic. He crashed head-on into a vehicle driven by Sandy Orellana-Mendoza (20, of Mendota) and occupied by four other female passengers, ages 14-22. Despite the life-saving measures taken by first responders, Orellana-Mendoza succumbed to her injuries, and the other four occupants all sustained serious injuries.

The investigation by the California Highway Patrol revealed that Deoca was severely impaired at the time of his driving. Toxicological testing of Deoca’s blood revealed that he had a substantial amount of marijuana in his system at the time of the crash.  The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the Fresno Office of the California Highway Patrol for their investigative work, dedication to the case, and continued efforts to keep the roadways safe from impaired drivers.

The District Attorney’s Office would like to remind the public that the use of alcohol or drugs can severely impair their ability to safely operate a motor vehicle, and that “DUI” does not just mean driving under the influence of alcohol, but also includes drugs, both prescription and elicit.

This case was successfully prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Steven Ueltzen with assistance from Senior District Attorney Investigator Max Garces. The case was prosecuted as a part of the Alcohol and Drug Impaired Driver Vertical Prosecution Program, which is funded by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety throughthe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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