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Salinas man pleads no contest in 2024 deadly DUI crash

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March 5, 2025 7:43 PM
Published 1:37 PM

SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV) -- A Salinas man pleaded no contest to charges in a DUI crash from July 2024 that left one man dead.

Jose Sanchez had pleaded no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and one count of driving under the influence.

The crash happened on July 20, 2024, after 1:00 p.m. as Sanchez traveled on Highway 101 Southbound through Salinas. Those driving around that time noticed weaving in and out of traffic in a black Acura TL.

Sanchez struck the victim Virginio Cortez on the side of the road south of Laurel Drive. Cortez was changing a tire on his granddaughter's car.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Sanchez also struck Cortez's daughter, injuring her.

CHP was found to have a blood alcohol level of .220, over twice the legal limit.

Sanchez did admit to having a blood alcohol level above .15 at the time of the crash.

Sanchez is facing up to 11 years and 8 months in prison for the crash.

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Sergio Berrueta

Sergio Berrueta has been in the news for quite awhile going from studying print media to entering the realm of broadcast.

Originally from Bell Gardens, California, in Southeast Los Angeles. Berrueta started his professional news career in Eureka as a newscast producer for North Coast News (now The Northstate’s News) at KAEF ABC 23 in 2022. He pivoted a year later in 2022 going from behind-the-scenes to in front of the camera as a multimedia journalist for Redwood News Channel 3 (KIEM/KVIQ) also in Eureka.

Berrueta studied journalism at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) earning his Bachelor’s Degree. Berrueta was a staff writer, page editor, social media manager and editor-in-chief of the university’s El Lenador, the only bilingual publication in all of Humboldt County.

Before moving to the North Coast, Berrueta had earned his Associate’s Degree at East Los Angeles College in 2019 after beginning his educational journey in 2012. He also was on staff for the ELAC’s publication, ELAC Campus News, having been a staff writer, page editor, and online editor.

Outside of news experience, Berrueta has also been in education as an AmeriCorps tutor in East Hollywood from 2017 to 2019 and served in a government role as a National Hometown Fellow for Lead for America with the City of Arcata in 2021.

When not focusing on news, Berrueta is an avid amateur cinephile having written about films in free time. He also writes poetry, attempting to get through a backlog of video games, enjoys visiting new places along the California Coast, and trying to keep up with the latest music and podcasts.

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