Fairfax County Man Sentenced In Fatal 2023 Burke Centre Crash

FAIRFAX, VA — A 45-year-old man who pleaded guilty last December to involuntary manslaughter in a fatal car crash that on Burke Centre Parkway in 2023 was sentenced on Thursday, according to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office.

Jose Angel Zelaya, 45, was sentenced for his role in the collision that resulted in the death of a teenage driver. A Fairfax County judge imposed a sentence of 10 years with seven years suspended, resulting in three years of active incarceration.

The incident occurred on July 18, 2023, while Zelaya was racing another vehicle on Burke Centre Parkway. He collided with a car making a left turn out of the Burke Centre shopping plaza. The 17-year-old driver of the car, identified in court records as RZ, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Three teenage passengers in the vehicle, including the younger brother of RZ and two friends, sustained serious injuries, according to a release.

Data retrieved from the car’s black box indicated that Zelaya was traveling at 87 mph with 99 percent throttle 1.5 seconds before the impact. The posted speed limit on that section of the parkway was 40 mph.

“There is no prison sentence that can do justice for the loss of a young life. RZ’s family, church, and community are forever altered by her death due to the reckless actions of the defendant,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano. “The sentencing guidelines in this case were 0-6 months of active incarceration; my office argued for a sentence of six years and ensured that the defendant would face prison time for the death of RZ.”

The sentence concludes the legal proceedings stemming from the 2023 collision. Zelaya is now set to serve his active term of three years in prison as determined by the court.

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