An unlicensed motorist who killed a 33-year-old motorcyclist in a driving under the influence collision at a Moreno Valley intersection was sentenced Thursday to nine years in state prison.
Bryon Alexa Cifuentes Saucedo, 24, pleaded guilty last month to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter and a sentence-enhancing allegation of fleeing the scene of a crime. In exchange for his admissions, the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office dropped a misdemeanor charge of being an unlicensed operator of a motor vehicle.
Superior Court Judge Timothy Hollenhorst certified the terms of the plea deal and imposed the sentence stipulated by the prosecution and defense.
Saucedo caused the collision that killed Mikela Lang of Moreno Valley last July 19.
According to sheriff’s Sgt. Robert Grmusha, Saucedo was driving his 2010 Nissan Altima eastbound on Filaree Avenue at about 6:40 p.m. when the traffic signal at the intersection of Filaree and Perris Avenue turned red.
Grmusha said the defendant failed to stop and entered the intersection just as Lang drove through it — on a green light — going southbound on Perris aboard her 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650.
“The Kawasaki motorcycle collided with the Nissan’s driver side, causing the rider to be ejected forward from the motorcycle,” the sergeant said.
The victim was hurled onto the roadway.
Saucedo bailed out of his sedan and attempted to run away but was stopped by witnesses, who physically restrained him until patrol deputies arrived, according to Grmusha.
Paramedics reached the location within 10 minutes and pronounced Lang dead at the scene.
He said the ensuing investigation revealed Saucedo was under the influence of drugs and alcohol.
He had no documented prior felony convictions.