Man meets fate for driving drunk, killing motorist on I-8 in La Mesa – NBC 7 San Diego

A man who drove drunk and caused a high-speed crash that killed another driver on Interstate 8 in La Mesa was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in state prison.

Iqbal Noory Ibrahim, 32, pleaded guilty to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and assault with a deadly weapon for causing the Oct. 27, 2022 crash that killed 53-year-old El Cajon resident Jeffrey Garde Life came.

At about 2:30 a.m. that day, Garde was driving a pickup truck eastbound on Interstate 8 near Grossmont Boulevard that was struck from behind. He was taken to a hospital where he died.

According to Assistant District Attorney Hailey Williams, Ibrahim had a blood alcohol level of 0.204% about an hour after the crash and said Ibrahim was driving over 100 miles per hour at the time of impact.

Due to a previous drunken driving conviction in 2018, he was initially charged with murder and initially faced up to 35 years to life in state prison. His other convictions include hit-and-run in 2015 and multiple convictions for driving with a revoked license. Ibrahim pleaded guilty and agreed to the 25-year sentence.

Garde was on his way home at the time of the fatal accident, according to his family members who attended Ibrahim's court hearing. They described him as a loving father to his only daughter, Justine, and said he was looking forward to an upcoming trip to the Philippines to visit his father and other family members. They said his hobbies included restoring old vehicles, including the truck he was driving the day he died.

Justine Garde said her father was a “very carefree and go-with-the-flow type of person,” adding: “He kept reminding me that anything could happen to him any day because nothing is guaranteed tomorrow.” But nothing could Prepare someone for the loss of a loved one like I did.”

Garde's daughter said the family had lost him “so abruptly and unjustly” and said: “Having to live the rest of my life knowing that the way he died was preventable is something I always have “I still have to process it and it’s difficult for me to accept.”

Ibrahim, who cried during statements from Garde's family members about the impact on the victim, apologized to them in court.

“My decisions that night were an irresponsible person with no regard for anyone,” he said. “I just want, hope and pray that one day in your lives it will be acceptable for all of you to forgive me, but I won't blame you if you don't because I can't even forgive myself. “

Ibrahim also said he would “never drink again in my life because I never want to cause this pain to anyone again. I’m so sorry I found out too late for Mr. Garde.”

Ibrahim's lawyer Stefano Molea said in a statement released after the hearing: “Mr Ibrahim sincerely regrets the decisions he made that led to this tragic event. He has accepted responsibility and hopes today's sentencing will be a step forward for his family.”