Woman Pleads Guilty for Accidentally Killing Her "Car Surfing" Boyfriend
July 27, 2009
Sunnyvale, California - A woman pleaded guilty to felony vehicular manslaughter and admitted that she was the driver when her boyfriend died while car surfing, according to local media reports.
Two months ago, Athena Ford, 20, was driving a vehicle when her boyfriend, Paul Benabides, 20, was attempting a stunt when he fell off from the car’s roof. According to local authorities, Benabides’s death is caused by severe head injuries.
In a court ruling handed by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, Ford will spend a year in prison.
The defendant avoided the maximum sentence of 10 years in jail after making a plea.
In a statement, DA’s Office Spokeswoman Amy Cornell said the decision is the most appropriate in the case.
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother, Susanna Ramos expressed disappointment with the ruling, saying “there was no justice” for her son.
On May 16, Benabides and his friend climbed onto the roof of the car, which was traveling 30 to 40 mph and going northbound on Lois Avenue, and started car surfing and doing stunts. The victim then lost his footing and held on to the rear of the vehicle and was dragged for an undetermined distance.