Man sentenced to 20 years after woman killed in DUI crash

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for a DUI-related crash in DeSoto County last year that left a woman dead.

According to the DeSoto County District Attorney’s Office, Baudilio Benedicto Perez Lopez, a 26-year-old from Guatemala in the country illegally, was sentenced on Monday for his role in a crash on June 3, 2023.

Reports say the crash took place on Highway 302. Officers found Perez Lopez trapped in his vehicle, which contained empty bottles of Modelo beer.

He was transported to an area hospital for his injuries, but the other driver involved in the collision died from her injuries.

District Attorney Matthew Barton says that Perez Lopez showed officers a false Guatemalan identification card. Due to this, he received additional charges.

“Perez Lopez, who had unlawfully entered the United States from Guatemala two years prior… was found to be operating his vehicle under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. His actions not only violated traffic laws but also resulted in the unnecessary loss of a life,” said D.A. Matthew Barton.

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