Michael Satterfield
Karen Gary Balyan the man behind the wheel of a Ford Mustang that lost control during an illegal street race, killing two spectators, was sentenced to 12 years in state prison. The 43 year old lost control of the vehicle slamming into Eric Siguenza, 26, of Los Angeles and Wilson Thomas Wong, 50, of Torrance who were killed, a third man was injured. Balyan and several others involved in the race fled the scene leaving the damaged Mustang behind.
Balyan pleaded no contest on December 22nd to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and admitted to fleeing the scene during the commission of the crime. He also entered a no contest plea to one misdemeanor count of assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
The driver of the Nissan GTR, Irael Valenzuela, 39, of Los Angeles, was sentenced to one year in jail and five years’ formal probation, after entered a no contest plea to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Valenzuela was well known in the drag racing community and had even appeared on the Discovery Channel’s “Street Outlaws” television show. Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Daniel Feldstern ordered the GTR destroyed and Valenzuela’s driver’s license suspended during his probationary period.
Henry Michael Gevorgyan, 22, of Van Nuys, the owner of the Ford Mustang that Balyan was driving, was sentenced to one year in county jail and three years’ formal probation. He pleaded no contest on December, 24th to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. His driver’s license also was suspended, and the judge ordered the Mustang destroyed.
The cars are being destroyed thanks to a new law that allows street racing vehicles to be seized and destroyed. The new law specifically target drivers who have caused bodily injury or deaths at racing events.
Get caught up on the story with the links below:
2 Killed 1 Injured in So Cal Street Race
Second Driver Arrested in Street Racing Crash was a “Street Outlaw”
LA Street Racing Hearing Postponed
Judge Says Murder Charges Might Not Stick
LA Street Racing Trial Moving Forward
Mitch Englander wants to seize “Street Racer’s” Cars
