SEATTLE — A King County courtroom was overflowing with emotion on Friday during the sentencing of a wrong-way driver who was intoxicated when he killed two teenagers, Khalea Thoeuk and Riley Danard, in 2023.
A judge sentenced the defendant, Delfino Lopez-Morales, to 12 years in prison. He entered a guilty plea, and the punishment he received was at the top of the sentencing range under the agreement.
"There is an entire community grieving this loss,” said Meriah Pitcher, Khalea’s aunt.
“I feel the void in my life every day. I dream of him every night, and every morning I have to remind myself that he is gone,” said Kallista Danard, Riley’s sister. "They were doing nothing wrong yet they were killed. They were killed for nothing and we are here left to pick up the pieces."
Lopez-Morales sobbed through his apology for what he did March 22, 2023. Prosecutors say his blood alcohol level was almost twice the legal limit and THC was also in his system when he drove the wrong way on the West Seattle Bridge, slamming head on into the car Riley and Khalea were traveling in, killing the 18-year-olds.
"The closing speed there was more than 100 miles per hour,” the prosecutor told the court.
Riley and Khalea were best friends. The reason they were in West Seattle on the day of the deadly crash was to celebrate Riley's 18th birthday. Family members of the victims said sentencing day needs to be about justice.
"It is about sending a loud and clear message to others," Pitcher said, "that if you decide to get behind the wheel under the influence alcohol and drugs there are really huge punitive issues and consequences."