A Sacramento County jury convicted Cameron Garcia, 32, on July 22, 2026, of five counts of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and carjacking, leading to a sentence of 188 years in prison. The conviction stems from a 2023 incident where Garcia drove a Cadillac Escalade into a tree south of the Freeport Bridge, killing all five passengers.
Prosecutors stated that Garcia had been drinking by the Sacramento River before driving. The vehicle, traveling at an estimated 101 miles per hour on a road that turned, crashed into a tree. The impact was severe enough to flip the car 180 degrees and tear off its roof and right side. Garcia, the sole survivor of the crash, sustained multiple injuries.
Following the crash, Garcia allegedly attempted to flee the scene by carjacking a vehicle from a woman who had arrived. He then led law enforcement on a pursuit in the stolen car, which ended in Elk Grove when he crashed again and was apprehended after a further attempt to escape on foot.
Blood tests conducted approximately 90 minutes after the collision indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.11%, exceeding California's legal limit, and the presence of active marijuana in his system.
The victims of the crash were identified as Monte Nunn, 29; Faith Samuel, 18; Izabelle Salaz-Stephens, 19; Curvontay Swygert, 16; and Aahliya Garcia, 17.
Family members of Garcia have contested the prosecution's narrative, asserting through a Change.org petition that Faith Samuel was driving at the time of the crash and that Garcia was asleep. The petition argues that Garcia's ejection from the vehicle supports his claim of not being the driver and seeks a review of the case and overturning of the conviction. The petition is also asking for the conviction to be overturned.