Drunk driver sentenced to 15 years for killing woman

Elizabeth Cano killed, husband critically hurt, in wrong way crash

SAN ANTONIO – His blood alcohol level was .17, over twice the legal limit, when Miguel Cortes, 24, slammed head-on into a car occupied by a couple and their 18-month-old daughter on the city’s Southside on the night of March 14, 2015.

On Friday, as part of a plea agreement, Cortes was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he plead no contest to intoxication manslaughter charges.

“My sister, my brother and I will never forgive you. Never,” Stephanie Longoria shouted at Cortes after he was sentenced. 

Longoria, the sister of Elizabeth Cano, 36, the woman killed in the wreck, was speaking during what is called a victim impact statement.

Following the crash Cortes, who was not injured, fled on foot.  He was arrested later that evening.

“You ran,” Longoria said to Cortes. “How could you do something like that? She was dying while you were running.”

Cano’s husband John was critically injured in the accident.  Still walking with a noticeable limp, he too addressed Cortes.

“I will never forgive you for what you have done to me, to my daughter and to my wife’s family and friends,” he said.

Cortes’ was also charged with failure to stop and render aid and intoxication assault.  Those sentences will run concurrently with his 15-year sentence on the intoxication assault charge.

He must serve one half of that sentence before he is eligible for parole.

“Now she can rest knowing that justice has been served and the person responsible for her death is going to prison,” Cano told Cortes.


About the Author:

Paul Venema is a courthouse reporter for KSAT with more than 25 years experience in the role.