BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A city man who authorities say drunkenly crashed his car on Stefko Boulevard last year, killing his passenger, has been sentenced to at least four years in prison.
Matthew Torres pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while DUI and other charges in the Aug. 4, 2024, death of Leanna Ferraj, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, who was a front-seat passenger in his car.
Torres sustained what authorities described as "non-life-threatening injuries" in the crash.
The sentence was announced in a news release by Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta.
Northampton County Judge Paula Roscioli on July 15 accepted Torres's plea to charges of homicide by vehicle while DUI, driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances, and involuntary manslaughter.
He was sentenced to 40 to 80 months in prison on the first two charges and eight to 60 months on the involuntary manslaughter charge.
The sentences are to be served consecutively, meaning he was sentenced to four years to as much as 11 years and 8 months.
Charges of recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, speeding and leaving his lane of travel were dismissed in the plea.
Police said in a release that at 6:40 p.m. that day, Torres was "driving recklessly at a high rate of speed, which caused him to lose control of his vehicle around a bend in the road."
The vehicle struck a curb, then hit a utility pole, a parked car, another utility pole and finally a light standard.
Police said bystanders already had removed Farraj from the car and were administering first aid when they arrived, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Her death was attributed to multiple blunt force trauma from the crash.
An investigation found Torres had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the time of the crash.
The case was investigated by Bethlehem Police and Northampton County Deputy District Attorney Joseph Lupackino.
