Judge Edgar S. Figueroa Vázquez of the Carolina court postponed on Monday the sentencing of Ruthy Trenche Chávez, the driver convicted of causing the deaths of horsemen José J. Díaz Serrano and Eduardo E. Álvarez Sosa and two horses on March 23, 2024, on road PR-188 in Loíza. The judge called a hearing for November 23 at 9:00 AM to challenge the presentence report filed by a social worker from the Corrections Administration’s probation and parole program.
Defense lawyer Edwin Castro Fontánez told the court he only received the report Monday morning, though rules require it 10 days in advance, and said the defense is not satisfied with the Carolina probation officers’ recommendation and will file a motion objecting to it. Prosecutor Marcos Algarín said the report due from the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA) has not been filed and that the prosecution will seek aggravating factors.
Trenche Chávez was convicted on August 5 of three of seven counts, including felony vehicular killing under reckless driving under Law 22 and an animal cruelty count, but acquitted of drunk driving, aggravated bodily harm (carrying up to 15 years), and another animal cruelty charge. Per agent Alexander H. Gaztambide Franco’s investigation, the 43-year-old, then owner of a driving school, veered onto the emergency shoulder at kilometer 3.9 around 11:35 PM and struck the riders head-on in her Toyota Tundra, allegedly over the legal blood-alcohol limit.
Both riders, 43, wore reflective vests; Díaz Serrano, of Ceiba, died at the scene, and Álvarez Sosa died on April 2 at the Centro Médico in Río Piedras.