Driver Sentenced In 2020 Crash That Killed Woman, Injured Her Children: Authorities

WOODBRIDGE, VA — In 2020, a head-on crash involving a drunken driver left a woman dead and her children injured. Last week, the other driver was sentenced for his role in the crash.

Lataja Wilkins died from injuries she suffered in the crash on Oct. 22, 2020. Her children suffered non-fatal injuries in the crash, authorities said.

Last week, Ronal Eriberto Guillen was sentenced for aggravated involuntary DWI manslaughter. He had already pleaded guilty.

Guillen will serve at least 10 years of a 20-year sentence, a judge declared.

On Oct. 22, 2020, Guillen had been drinking and smoking marijuana before driving away from a friend's house, according to court records. He eventually crossed over the median after turning onto Springwoods Drive and travelled for 900 feet before crashing into Wilkins's vehicle, authorities said.

Wilkins was driving to drop off her children with a family member before going to work, the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney told Patch.

Investigators determined that Guillen's blood alcohol content was 0.15 percent. In Virginia, the legal limit for blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent.

Wilkins died at a nearby hospital after the crash.

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