Woman Sentenced to Seven-Year Prison Term for Bicyclist's Death

GLENDORA, CA - A Glendora woman charged in an October crash that killed a bicyclist in West Covina pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and was immediately sentenced to nine years in state prison.

Presley Danielle Rodriguez, 25, also admitted an allegation that she fled the scene of the crime after striking Jose Ruiz-Villanueva, 44, of La Puente.

Ruiz-Villanueva was struck shortly before midnight on Oct. 26 in the 1100 block of South Valinda Avenue. He died at the scene.

A police officer who was parked on Valinda Avenue, north of Merced Avenue, heard the sound of the collision, saw the vehicle driving northbound and stopped it at Cameron Avenue, according to West Covina police.

Rodriguez was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock