Drunk driver gets 15-to-life in Elk Grove DUI death

Rebecca Vela was sentenced today to 15-years-to-life for the drunk driving accident that killed Stanley Spaeth on April 18, 2009.  Vela had been convicted of second-degree murder, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and driving under the influence with prior conviction and hit-and-run.

The victim was driving his motorcycle northbound on East Stockton Boulevard  in Elk Grove when Vela, who was also driving her vehicle in the same direction at 75 mph, began straddling the center line. Her car's right front bumper struck the rear of the victim's motorcycle and he landed on Vela's hood and was thrown. The victim died at the scene.

Vela' s car continued forward with the victim's motorcycle wedged under the right front corner and eventually collided into a sheet metal sound barrier. Vela attempted to flee the scene but was stopped by an off-duty police officer.

Vela had four previous DUI convictions.