Man gets year in fatal 3-vehicle crash

LAS CRUCES - A previously convicted drunken driver will go to prison for one year after a three-car crash that killed his passenger in January, according to a judgment filed Monday.

3rd Judicial District Court Judge Stephen Bridgforth suspended most of an almost seven-year sentence for Tommy James Hernandez, 45, who was at the wheel of a 1995 Chevy truck that veered into another lane on Sandia Road and crashed into another vehicle Jan. 21.

Hernandez was convicted in August of vehicular homicide, a felony, aggravated drunken driving and criminal property damage. After a year in prison - 252 days of which he has already served - Hernandez will be placed on supervised probation for five years. He is also ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed in any vehicle he drives for one year, and attend DWI School, according to court records.

Both alcohol and failure to wear seat belts were factors in the collision that killed Hernandez's passenger, Anthony Atencio, 43, officials said. After striking the vehicle - a Chevy Cavalier driven by Carmen Armendarez, 20, of Berino - Hernandez's truck then struck a light post and crashed into a Chevy Lumina driven by Jesus Esparza, 20, of Las Cruces. Neither Armendarez nor Esparza were injured.

Hernandez and Atencio were taken to University Medical Center in El Paso, where Atencio died, authorities said.

Officers found open containers in Hernandez's truck and a portion of a case of beer.

In addition to being convicted

for burglary and vehicle theft in the mid-80s, Hernandez has violated parole five times in California, according to court records. In 2007, he was convicted of his first aggravated drunken driving offense.

Ashley Meeks can be reached at ameeks@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5462.