CRIME WATCH FOLLOWUP: Wrong-way DUI driver who killed two 18-year-olds on West Seattle Bridge pleads guilty

| Crime | West Seattle news

(SDOT camera image from shortly after crash)

A year and a half after two 18-year-olds died when a wrong-way, high-speed DUI driver hit them on the West Seattle Bridge, their killer is awaiting sentencing. After a reader question today, we checked on the status of 37-year-old Delfino Lopez-Morales, charged with two counts of vehicular homicide and one count of reckless driving two and a half months after the crash, and discovered he pleaded guilty to all charges last month. He is scheduled to be sentenced in November for killing Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, both from Snohomish County and on their way to Alki shortly after 12 am March 22, 2023, to celebrate Riley’s birthday, when Lopez-Morales hit them head-on going 100 mph. Three hours after the crash, he tested at a blood-alcohol level of .14, nearly twice the legal limit, and was shown to have recently consumed THC as well. He was in the hospital for weeks after the crash, and charges were filed before he was moved to jail. Case documents from his plea agreement say the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will recommend 11 years, 4 months in prison – the top of the standard sentencing range for vehicular homicide – followed by one year in jail for the reckless-driving count, plus 18 months probation. Documents say Lopez-Morales, who had been living with his disabled father in the Westwood area, was not licensed to drive; his record only shows a citation for driving without insurance in 2016; the pickup truck in which he hit the victims was borrowed from a friend. King County Superior Court Judge Angela Kaake will sentence him at 1 pm November 1.

Alf September 10, 2024 (2:52 pm)

Wow, 11 years he’s out, while those two kids will still be dead

Jay September 10, 2024 (8:25 pm)

It’ll likely be much less than 11 years.
Local September 10, 2024 (9:33 pm)

Especially when due to a DUI

K September 10, 2024 (2:57 pm)

I hate that sentences for crimes committed with cars are so much lower than the same crime when committed with any other weapon.

Jim September 10, 2024 (11:07 pm)

Not just a crime committed with a car but one that resulted in the death of two people on top of a bunch of other illegal behavior and it’s even more amazing when you consider this person will probably not even end up serving that full 11 years probably half that if not less
- K September 11, 2024 (6:50 am)
  
  That’s the point I’m making. If he had borrowed a gun he was not legally allowed to possess, got high on meth and shot those two kids, he’d be looking at two life sentences. But because it was a car, the sentencing guidelines are way lower. Sentences for different crimes have so much more to do with how people feel about the crime than the societal impact, and we are far more tolerant of drinking and driving than we are of shooting. It shouldn’t be that way.

Seattlite September 10, 2024 (3:23 pm)

Instead of an unacceptable recommendation of “11 years, 4 months in prison,” I recommend that he rot in prison for the rest of his life. Who knows what he will do after this recommended short sentence in prison, then one year in jail and 18 months probation. Will he imbibe alcohol, smoke grass and get behind the wheel again? I wonder if the friend who loaned this guy his truck knew he had no driver’s license. If so, I would also recommend that the friend be sentenced to a stint in jail.

Insertname September 10, 2024 (3:49 pm)

Absolutely heartbreaking. Thank you for following up on this. I implore everyone to PLEASE not drink and drive. These types of crashes are far too common. Tragic and preventable.

Julian September 10, 2024 (3:51 pm)

Wow, you can kill two young girls while driving unlicensed and not even get time in prison longer than either of the victims were here on earth, let alone all the years he stole from them. I harbor an intense hatred for drunk drivers. At least he pled guilty instead of forcing the families through a trial. If I were him, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. Hope he can’t either.

Neighbor September 10, 2024 (9:45 pm)

I’m not going to defend the actions of the driver but your comment is revolting. Wishing that kind of harm on anyone is indefensible. You should strive to be a better person.
- Julian September 11, 2024 (5:37 am)
  
  Sorry to offend your sensibilities Neighbor, but I find it revolting to have to walk the same Earth as these people. I think your insistence on showing compassion to people who slaughter kids means you need to strive to be better.
- Lisab September 11, 2024 (9:25 am)
  
  Two innocents were slaughtered, and this is what upsets you?
  - Neighbor September 11, 2024 (11:04 am)
    
    I’m capable of complex thought. I am sad for the loss of those teenagers and the suffering this crash has caused. But I believe justice was done here. I don’t believe a longer sentence will save the next two teenagers because harsh punishment isn’t an effective deterrent. This case proves that.

CarDriver September 10, 2024 (3:52 pm)

WSB. Any word on if whomever overserved him (or let him overconsume) and let him drive and the friend that let him use his truck were charged at all?

WSB September 10, 2024 (3:59 pm)

Loaning someone your vehicle is not regulated to my knowledge. As for the former, there is absolutely nothing in the documents, nor has there ever been, about what and where he drank. (That’s one thing about plea agreements – they certainly resolve the case but additional information that might have been revealed at trial will never publicly come to light.) A beer bottle was found in the vehicle so presumably he served himself (too?).
- Youngstown resident September 11, 2024 (10:14 am)
  
  Both SDOT & WSDOT have refused to put WRONG WAY signs at what was probably this scumbags entry point..
- Andy September 24, 2024 (2:46 pm)
  
  The driver is unlicensed. This “borrowed” truck (a work truck) appears to be the same one he was using when arrested for DUI a few years earlier. That sounds like a straw man owner (for someone who could not register a vehicle legally in his own name) rather than a borrowed vehicle.

King County Prosecutors are a joke September 10, 2024 (4:15 pm)

A 11 year PLEA AGREEMENT for someone who made the choice to drink after consuming whatever they did and KILLED TWO people?

Those two people will never get the chance to make a choice like he did. Absolutely ridiculous that he even got a plea. These prosecutors are the people that are supposed to protect people who live their life doing the right thing but if the wrong thing doesn’t get much punishment then it’s better off being a Wild West.

Don't always blame KCPO September 10, 2024 (9:13 pm)

As stated in the article from WSB the sentencing recommended by the KC Prosecutor is “the top of the standard sentencing range for vehicular homicide”, per WA state law it’s the most severe sentence that can be imposed for vehicular homicide. The prosecutors can’t ignore these guidelines – if this is not acceptable to us citizens we need to demand the Legislature make changes! And don’t even get me started on what judges can do when deciding the actual sentence . . .
wscommuter September 10, 2024 (10:15 pm)

Your ignorant ranting is impressive. A “plea agreement” with your all caps and bolding is nothing more than him pleading guilty as charged. There was no reduction in charges or lowered punishment to be recommended by the prosecutor. He just didn’t want to go to trial, where he would obviously lose. Read the article above before you get hysterical screaming at prosecutors. They are recommending “top of the standard range” for punishment. The punishment for vehicular homicide is set by the legislature – not by prosecutors or judges. If you think this punishment is too low, talk to your legislators. Learn civics, for godsakes.

Admiral-2009 September 10, 2024 (4:26 pm)

I’m with Seattlite the perp deserves to rot in prison the rest of his life; he killed two young adults. It was his birthday and he and his gf were celebrating the occasion and became victims of this drunk driver.

CR September 10, 2024 (5:27 pm)

The story of these two still haunts me. I think of them particularly on the evenings I cross that bridge. Their poor families.

Lisab September 10, 2024 (5:46 pm)

Wish it was a life sentence, only fair. May he never know a day of happiness again. R.I.P. to the young souls lost.

Lala September 10, 2024 (6:23 pm)

The most disrespectful punishment. A measly 11 years for taking two lives?! I’ve seen people get more for selling weed.

ACG September 10, 2024 (7:31 pm)

11 years for killing TWO people? Not licensed to drive…. Under the influence… Oh my. Those sentencing rules break my heart. My condolences to the families of the victims.

Ms. West Seattle September 10, 2024 (8:07 pm)

Should have been 11 years for each victim minimum. He should also be made to educate young adults on the dangers of drinking and driving.

1994 September 10, 2024 (10:22 pm)

My thought was at least 18 years per victim. The WA State vehicular homicide laws and sentencing need to be tougher on the offenders who drive & kill. Especially when under the influence.

Concerned, citizen September 10, 2024 (8:39 pm)

Will someone please explain to me who makes these ridiculous sentencing laws?How can this be changed and make people accountable for such heinous acts of crime such as killing two young people?is it our state legislatures who make these laws?Why should killing people with a car be different than using a handgun when it comes to sentencing?

wscommuter September 10, 2024 (10:17 pm)

To answer your question, the legislature sets the punishment ranges for all felony offenses. Not judges, not prosecutors and not police.
Tomiko Strothers September 20, 2024 (3:52 pm)

That’s how they got him to plead guilty. By lowering the sentencing. They are trying to do the same thing with the young man that killed my son and nephew on I5 SB, and he has done this before. That sentence has got to be devastating to the parents!

Neighbor September 10, 2024 (9:49 pm)

I’m not here to defend the driver but to the bloodthirsty mob I remind you that 11 years is already life changing. You all should practice compassion. Strict penalties for drunk driving haven’t saved lives, you just want vengeance.

Lisab September 11, 2024 (11:29 am)

Only your 2nd comment that indicates worry about words but not dead kids. Wow.

SoLongDelridge September 10, 2024 (11:17 pm)

West Seattle residents outraged by lenient car culture they uphold. Shocker.

Joshua September 13, 2024 (10:24 am)

We have a Bingo!

bill September 10, 2024 (11:51 pm)

The State has a 485 page manual for adult sentencing: the current distillation of all the punishments laid out by the Legislature. https://cfc.wa.gov/sites/default/files/Publications/Adult_Sentencing_Manual_2023_0_3.pdf

Jay September 11, 2024 (9:29 am)

That’s what people are talking about. The calculation sheet for getting drunk and high and killing two kids with your car results in an offender score of 3 with a maximum sentence of 136 months. And he will get out before then, the full time is rarely served. A vehicle involved reduced the seriousness of violent crimes significantly. Each kid’s life is only worth about 3-5 years of actual time served because using a vehicle to kill them makes it a less serious crime.

divine September 11, 2024 (11:40 am)

This shows that the sentencing guidelines might need adjustment. If we create stricter guidelines, we need to be willing to fund and provide in-my-backyard added prison space, as well as accept that other related crimes might carry a penalty many would have an issue with. An example would be killing a pedestrian at a crosswalk while looking at your phone scrolling feeds (fear of missing outrage). Everybody has their 11 outrage volume when it is a crime they can’t imagine for themselves, but bring it home to their own world, and all of a sudden the imagined penalty is less strict.

Bdubbs September 11, 2024 (10:17 pm)

So…..1. Drinking and driving 2. Smoking weed and driving 3. Drove the wrong way4. Drove 55mph over the speed limit5. killed one person6. Killed a second person….. and it’s 11 years? That’s hardly enough to cover the first murder. He may not have premeditated murder, but he sure committed, and frankly chose the possibility of murder by his actions. He’ll probably serve 5 on good behavior. I feel sorry for the victims family.

DUI Crimes September 13, 2024 (10:11 am)

As a person who lost 2 family members to DUI driver and had to be witness to the lax sentencing guidelines for these types of crimes I would like to know the source of the statement by “neighbor” that punishment for these crimes doesn’t work. I was involved with MADD (mothers against drunk drivers) which has been fighting for tightening these legislative guidelines across the US for many years. Many of these perps reoffend so hopefully the guy will sober up while in prison and at minimum he will be off the roads… These sentencing guidelines need to be increased. Mandatory substance abuse treatment also needs to be part of it.

stubble-stamen0l@icloud.com September 13, 2024 (8:25 pm)

Citizens must contact their state legislators and let them know how we, their constituents want them to vote. And vote for state legislatures that will tighten up the laws and sentences

lily_ly September 16, 2024 (2:35 pm)

I still remember watching the video of the aftermath, when a witness went to the victims’ car and bent over from the shock of what he saw. I hope he got help for processing that. And I hope it’s a small comfort to the parents that so many of us haven’t forgotten their children.

Sorry, comment time is over.