Richard Wilson, 65, was found guilty of the death of 51-year-old Jonna Therese Smith of Chico, as well as causing an injury to the driver of the car he collided with, 58-year-old Steve Julian Valencia of Paradise. Valencia suffered internal injuries and Wilson suffered injuries to his hip and heel.
The accident happened in January 2015, but the sentence was not decided until April 14 of this year. Wilson was charged with DUI alcohol causing bodily injury, DUI for .08 blood alcohol content causing bodily injury, vehicle manslaughter while intoxicated, and driving the wrong way on a highway causing injury or death, according to the Butte County Jail Inmate Information System.
The collision happened on Skyway near Paradise. Wilson was driving westbound in eastbound lanes and hit a car coming toward him. He had seven previous DUI convictions before this, and pled guilty to all allegations against him, according to the Butte County District Attorney’s office.
By Hannah Suzuki