Driver Sentenced For Crash That Killed Pedestrian, Dog: Prosecutors

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A Woodbridge man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for a June 2022 crash that killed a pedestrian and his dog, the Prince William County Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney.

Luis Alfredo Perez, Jr. was walking his dog when the car crashed into him. Perez and his dog both died from injuries they suffered in the crash.

Authorities identified the driver as Gentil Mwenze Banze. In July, he pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence. This month, a Prince William County judge sentenced Banze to 10 years, the maximum sentence allowed under Virginia law. He will also be subjected to three years of active probation upon release.

The crash occurred on June 18, 2022 on Old Bridge Road, authorities said. Witnesses said they saw Banze swerve in and out of his lane before leaving the roadway. Banze then drove onto the sidewalk and struck Perez.

"After the Defendant struck Mr. Perez, Jr. and his dog, he crashed into the utility pole located in the area of Cape Cod Ct, bringing down live power lines causing an audible and visible explosion on Old Bridge Road," the office of the commonwealth's attorney said in a release.

A crash investigator responded to the scene and claimed Banze smelled of alcohol, swayed as he stood, had bloodshot eyes, and "showed signs of impairment" in three sobriety tests. Authorities said Banze later admitted to drinking beer before driving.

Virginia's drunken driving laws are among the harshest in the nation, the DMV said. If a driver is convicted for a first DUI offense, the minimum punishment includes a $250 fine and a revocation of the driver's license for one year. A DUI conviction can also require the installation of an ignition interlock device.

Across the country, 28 people die in drunken driving crashes every day, according to the DMV.

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