Sonal Patel has been sentenced to seven years in prison for causing a deadly crash that claimed the life of Omar Ortiz on Interstate 85 in Gwinnett County. The 40-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of vehicular homicide and driving under the influence in connection with the February 2024 incident.
According to prosecutors, Patel was impaired by alcohol and the prescription drug Trazodone and had reportedly gone without sleep for nearly two days before the crash. Investigators said her reckless behavior led to the death of Ortiz, a 29-year-old father who had recently immigrated from Cuba in search of a better life for his family.
“His girl and his boy are going to grow up without a dad,” said Ortiz’s aunt-in-law, Leticia Almaguer. “He came to give a great future to the kids.” Almaguer, who had been driving Ortiz home that night, recounted the devastating moment when Patel’s vehicle caused the collision.
Prosecutors told the court that Patel had stopped her car in a lane on the interstate and fallen asleep behind the wheel. Ortiz died at the scene from his injuries. Authorities also discovered cocaine inside Patel’s vehicle. Despite having a suspended license at the time of the crash, she was behind the wheel.
Her release on bond following the arrest drew outrage from Ortiz’s relatives and their legal representatives. “We are very disappointed that she was able to bond out because she is a repeat offender,” said the family’s attorney, Karina Deochand, according to WGAU.
Court records show that Patel negotiated a plea agreement that included a guilty plea to homicide by vehicle and DUI. Under the terms of the sentence, she will serve seven years in prison as part of a 25-year total sentence, with the remaining years to be served on probation.
“She is on the hook for a life,” Deochand said after the sentencing. Prosecutors emphasized that Patel’s long history of reckless behavior behind the wheel and substance abuse made the case especially troubling. The court described her actions as a deadly mix of negligence and disregard for public safety.
Ortiz’s family members have vowed to keep his memory alive and continue advocating for stronger penalties in DUI cases. They said the outcome, while providing some closure, cannot replace the life that was lost. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of impaired driving and the families left behind to face the aftermath.