A California man has been sentenced to prison after causing a deadly crash while driving at high speed and under the influence.
Prosecutors say the driver ran a red light at nearly 80 mph, collided with another vehicle and then ran away from the crash scene while a passenger inside the other car was dying. The case drew strong reactions in court, especially from the victim’s family, who described the lasting pain caused by the tragedy.
Deadly Crash in Fresno
The crash happened in 2023 at the intersection of First Street and McKinley Avenue in Fresno.
Police say Shane Shahan was driving a Chevrolet Colorado at around 80 mph when he ran a red light.
His truck slammed into a Hyundai Elantra carrying two people. One of the passengers, 35-year-old Jesse Espino, suffered severe injuries.
Espino was rushed to a hospital but later died from his injuries.
Driver Ran Away After the Crash
Authorities say the impact flipped Shahan’s truck, but he managed to escape without serious injuries.
Instead of staying at the scene or calling for help, police said he ran away from the crash site.
Officers later found him in a nearby neighborhood and took him into custody shortly afterward.
During the investigation, an officer testified that Shahan appeared intoxicated when he was caught.
According to testimony reported by local media, the officer noticed:
- A strong smell of alcohol
- Heavy sweating
- Erratic speech
Shahan reportedly told officers, “Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. I got scared. I didn’t know what to do.”
Video Evidence Shown in Court
During the trial, prosecutors played video footage that showed what happened immediately after the crash.
A Fresno police officer testified that the footage showed Shahan looking back at the wrecked vehicle and the injured passenger before running away.
According to testimony, the driver and another person looked back at the scene and then fled.
Investigators said Shahan never called 911, even though he had a cellphone with him.
Driver Had History of DUI Offenses
Prosecutors revealed that Shahan already had two previous alcohol-related driving convictions before the fatal crash.
Those DUI convictions happened in 2016 and 2017.
At the time of the crash, Shahan was still on probation for the 2017 DUI case.
Investigators also said he had marijuana in his system when the crash occurred.
Because of his prior convictions and the circumstances of the crash, prosecutors pursued a second-degree murder charge.
Family Speaks About the Loss
During the sentencing hearing, family members of Jesse Espino spoke about the pain caused by his death.
His sister, Crystal Espino, told the court their lives changed forever after the tragedy.
She said their family is not the same and described the emotional impact of losing her only sibling.
Espino’s father, Edward Espino, also addressed the court, sharing the painful memory of seeing his son in the hospital and saying goodbye.
Maximum Sentence Ordered
Shahan was convicted of multiple charges, including:
- Second-degree murder
- Hit-and-run causing death
- Driving with a suspended license
Jurors took less than an hour to reach their verdict.
A judge later sentenced Shahan to 19 years to life in prison, which was the maximum sentence allowed for the charges.
During sentencing, the judge said the crash was not just one poor decision but a series of reckless and selfish choices.
