A repeat drunk driver, who killed six people in 2014 when she drove on the wrong side of a California freeway while intoxicated, was sentenced Wednesday to 30 years to life behind bars.
“I ask God every single day to give comfort to those who are hurt by this,” Olivia Carolee Culbreath, 26, stated through tears in court at her sentencing, according to KTLA. “I want people to know I would die a million times over again for any one of you. They deserve so much more life and I wish I could give it to them.”
Culbreath was 21-years-old at the time of the fatal drunken crash, which occurred February 9, 2014. Authorities said the convict was supposed to be the designated driver when she was travelling the wrong way with two passengers, including her sister, on the 60 Freeway in Diamond Bar, located about 25 miles outside of Los Angeles.
She subsequently crashed her vehicle into an oncoming 1998 Ford Explorer “carrying three generations of a Huntington Park family,” the news station reported, citing officials.
“30 years to life” for wrong way driver that killed 6 included her own sister. The crash occurred on Feb/2014 killed 4 people of the same family, DUI slammed into Victims Ford Explorer at 100 mph. Olivia carolee Culbreath had prior conviction in April/2010 for DUI @univision34 pic.twitter.com/AfV36lO1dm
— Oswaldo Borraez (@oborraez) December 6, 2018
The four people travelling in the Ford Explorer, Gregorio Mejia-Martinez, 47; his wife, Leticia Ibarra, 42; the couple’s daughter, Jessica Jasmine Mejia, 20; and Jessica’s grandma, Ester Delgado, were killed after the impact of the crash threw them from the vehicle.
The two occupants in Culbreath’s car were also killed, including her 24-year-old sister, Maya Louise Culbreath, and a family friend, 21-year-old Kristin Melissa Young.
An occupant of another vehicle entangled in the wreck reportedly escaped with non life-threatening injuries.
Prosecutors said the fatal day wasn’t the first time Culbreath, who had a .15 blood alcohol level three hours later, was intoxicated while behind the wheel. She had a prior record involving drinking while driving, including a conviction from when she was 17, according to a 2014 report by The Los Angeles Times.
DUI driver Olivia Culbreath gets 30 yrs to life. Six dead including her best friend, sister and a family of four.@ABC7Courts pic.twitter.com/hw0HALbn2r
— Miriam Hernandez (@abc7miriam) December 5, 2018
Further, another alcohol-related arrest led a court to warn Culbreath that “she could face murder charges for any other offenses,” KTLA reported. While the aforementioned resulted in driving limitations for the criminal, they were apparently “lifted” the week prior to the tragic wreck.
“I’m going to punish myself for the rest of my life,” Culbreath said at sentencing. “I was so wrong, and I take full responsibility.”
Culbreath pleaded no contest to six charges of second-degree murder prior to being sentenced. She wasn’t reportedly charged with drunk driving in the case, and will be eligible for parole after serving 25 years.
[Feature Photo: Olivia Culbreath/KTLA screengrab]
