A jury has found Victor Ledezma-Caballero (dob 3/21/93) guilty of both counts of Reckless Driving Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm.
The defendant was arrested after the car he was driving went into oncoming traffic a little after 6 in the morning on December 13, 2023. Ledezma-Caballero was speeding at around 70mph when he crossed into oncoming traffic on Plumb Lane near Hunter Lake Dr., hitting an SUV driven by Robert Murray head on. The crash flipped the vehicle Ledezma was driving, leaving it upside down in the road. As good Samaritans stopped to help both men, the car Ledezma was driving burst into flames, and bystanders heard a woman trapped inside, screaming for help. Ledezma’s friend, Stevi Lynch was in the passenger seat and was eventually able to be pulled from the car. She suffered burns to at least 80% of her body, blindness in her left eye, extensive broken bones, and had an arm amputated following the crash. Murray’s right leg was crushed from his ankle to his hip, he suffered a compound fracture to his wrist, a broken sternum, a traumatic brain injury, and internal injuries.
A single blood test collected by the investigating law enforcement agency showed that the defendant, Ledezma, had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.14. However, because the sample was taken more than three hours after the crash and descending blood draws, which would show his BAC at the time of driving, were not completed during the investigation, the court ruled that the results of the single blood test were inadmissible at trial.
Despite those circumstances, the prosecution proceeded to trial on an impairment-based Driving Under the Influence theory, arguing that Ledezma was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. Deputy District Attorney Rachael Chesterfield presented evidence showing that the defendant had been barhopping with friends for approximately ten hours prior to the crash, along with other evidence indicating alcohol impairment. Ultimately, the jury found the defendant not guilty on both counts of DUI Resulting in Substantial Bodily Harm.
Sentencing is set for March 16th before the Honorable Tammy Riggs. Ledezma faces 1-6 years for each count of Reckless Driving. The state intends to seek the maximum sentence.
