Man Sentenced to Two Years for Fatal DUI Crash

A 19-year-old South San Francisco man was sentenced to two years in state prison today for a drunk driving accident that killed a 17-year-old girl riding in the back seat of his car. 

Sean Danniel Quintero was also ordered to pay $47,250 in restitution in connection with the Feb. 5, 2011 crash, which killed 17-year-old Margaret Qaqish of San Jose, prosecutors said today. 

He pleaded no contest on Nov. 4 to one count of felony drunk driving causing injury and one count of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence, as well as an enhancement for causing great bodilyinjury. 

Quintero had been out partying with friends in Daly City and San Francisco before the 3:30 a.m. crash on U.S. Highway 101 near South San Francisco, according to prosecutors. 

He was distracted by a conversation about what radio station to listen to when traffic in front of him slowed and backed up due to a non-injury crash. He tried to stop and veered two lanes to the right, crashing into the back of a Ford Explorer, which lurched forward and crashed into the back of a Toyota Scion, prosecutors said. 

While no one in the other cars was hurt, Qaqish, who was sitting in the middle of the back seat in Quintero's car, was thrown forward and died a short time later at the hospital of her injuries. 

An open container was found in the car and Quintero's blood alcohol level 90 minutes after the crash was at least .15, prosecutors said. 

-Bay City News