Rosendo Gaeta was sentenced to ten and twelve years in prison in Texas for causing a drunk driving accident that resulted in the death of a three-year-old child. The 36-year-old Hispanic man received his two sentences in a court in Harris County, at the center of the Houston metropolitan area.
The tragedy caused by Gaeta shook the Houston community to its core, as details of the accident were revealed by authorities. Gaeta was convicted of intoxicated manslaughter and fleeing the scene of an accident with injured people.
The incident occurred on a cold Wednesday, January 4th, 2023, when emergency services received a call about the accident. Chelsie Garbello was driving the family’s truck, with her husband Sydez Hasnain in the passenger seat and their three-year-old son in the back. The child was critically injured and had to be airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Authorities discovered that after the crash, Gaeta did not stop and continued his reckless journey, despite his vehicle being severely damaged. Detectives found video evidence at the scene showing Gaeta speeding at the time of the accident.
Gaeta’s trial took place in front of Judge Matthew Peneguy of the District Criminal Court 488 in Harris County, who handed down the sentences. The District Attorney’s Office in Harris County is still investigating where Gaeta was drinking alcohol excessively before the accident.
In Texas, bartenders who over-serve alcohol to customers can face legal consequences. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office revealed the severity of the incident and the impact it had on the Houston community. Hopefully, this case serves as a reminder of the dangers of drunk driving and the devastating consequences it can have on innocent lives.
