A Duarte man was sentenced Friday to 15 years to life in prison in connection with a wrong-way crash that killed a motorist on the Foothill (210) Freeway in Irwindale nearly two years ago.
Tyler White Thompson, 26, pleaded no contest June 3 to one count each of second-degree murder, driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury within 10 years of another drunken driving offense and leaving the scene of an accident.
The charges stem from an Aug. 9, 2014, crash that killed 19-year-old Justin Romo of El Monte.
Thompson was driving his 1997 Honda Accord eastbound at an estimated 75 mph in the westbound lanes of the Foothill Freeway near Irwindale Avenue as Romo drove westbound, according to the California Highway Patrol.
At the last moment, the wrong-way driver swerved to the left and slammed head-on into the victim’s car, authorities said.
Romo was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thompson was arrested by the CHP nearly 2 1/2 hours after the crash, which closed all westbound lanes of the freeway west of Vernon Avenue for about four hours.
—City News Service