After celebrating her friend’s 30th birthday party at California Girls Gentleman’s Club in Santa Ana in July, Lynette Ann Hunt was drunk. Nevertheless, she still decided to drive her friends, Vanessa Herada and Maria Zamarripa, home that night. Witnesses said they saw Hunt weaving in and out of lanes on the 91 freeway before her car skid out of control, went down an embankment, rolled over and ejected Herada and Zamarripa. California Highway Patrol arrived and noticed Hunt’s breath smelled like alcohol, she was slurring her speech and her eyes were bloodshot. Her blood alcohol level was a .15%. Herrada was pronounced dead at the scene of the crime from major head trauma. Zamarripa was taken to the hospital and died from severe internal injuries. Hunt suffered a few broken bones.
On Monday, in Fullerton, Hunt pled guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, misdemeanor driving on a suspended license and to the sentencing enhancements of causing great bodily injury and having a blood alcohol level of above a .15%. She is expected to serve about 6 years in state prison.
It is so unfortunate that Hunt decided to drive her friends that night. Even when you are drunk, you know when your friends are drunk and her friends should have known not to get in that car. Unfortunately for Hunt, she killed her close friends and will think about it for the rest of her life. If you get a DUI, you will need an experienced attorney to help you through the legal process.
If you have any questions about DUI’s, manslaughter, or about your own charges, please call Orange County defense attorney William Weinberg, at 949.474.8009 (Irvine office) or 714.834.1400 (Orange office).