Alleged Street Racer Enters Plea

May 1, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Joe Scott, Director of Communications
Sandi Gibbons, Public Information Officer
Jane Robison, News Secretary
(213) 974-3525

POMONA – A teenager involved in a fatal street racing accident in Pico Rivera last year pleaded no contest today to vehicular manslaughter and four counts of reckless driving causing specified injury.
Deputy District Attorney Duke Chau of Pomona Branch Office said Fitzgerald Paragas, 18, is due back for sentencing on June 20 by Judge Daniel Buckely in Dept. E of Pomona Superior Court. Paragas may receive a maximum sentence of eight years and eight months in state prison.

Paragas pleaded open to five counts, meaning the plea agreement was not part of a negotiated settlement with the District Attorney’s Office. One count of murder and a misdemeanor count of speed contest are expected to be dismissed at the time of sentencing, according to the prosecutor.

Paragas and the victim, Brian Ramirez, who were friends, allegedly were racing their cars on Rosemead Boulevard in Pico Rivera at speeds reaching 90 mph, on Oct. 7, 2007.

Both drivers allegedly passed at least four other cars before the Ramirez car swerved across lanes, traveled across the raised center median and into opposing northbound lanes of traffic, crashing into a Volkswagen Jetta. Ramirez was killed and four people inside the Jetta were seriously injured.

smd

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