SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The driver who caused a deadly crash in central Sioux Falls nearly two years ago has been sentenced to 40 years in the state prison.
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Judge Douglas Barnett sentenced Damion Laurelez at the Minnehaha County Courthouse Thursday morning. The judge did not suspend any of Laurelez’s 40-year prison sentence.
Earlier this year, Laurelez agreed to plead guilty to two counts of first degree manslaughter for the April 2024 crash near East 18th Street and South 2nd Avenue at 6:08 a.m. The crash killed two teenagers and there were eight teenagers all involved in the crash.
“I’ve been doing this job 17, 18 years, and I certainly can’t think of an accident that I’ve been to that’s been more catastrophic than this,” Lt. Andrew Siebenborn with the Sioux Falls Police Department said in 2024. “This was a very, very, very serious scene, and quite frankly, very tragic that we lost two lives in this, but also an absolute miracle that we don’t have seven deceased in this if you look at that vehicle.”
In the plea deal, the state agreed to dismiss second-degree manslaughter, vehicular homicide and other charges in exchange for the guilty pleas. Per the plea agreement, the state will not recommend more than a 30-year sentence. Laurelez has pleaded guilty to two counts, and the state will recommend the two sentences run at the same time…