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Jonathan Ortiz-Guananga, 27, struck a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty to death by auto and assault by auto rather than go to trial for the early-morning May 5, 2019 crash on Paterson Plank Road that killed Adriana Riano of North Bergen.
He was sentenced Thursday by Superior Court Judge Judge Patrick J. Arre to eight years in New Jersey state prison for one charge of second-degree death by auto, which will run consecutive to a flat 12 months in New Jersey state prison for a fourth-degree assault by auto.
Ortiz-Guananga was drunk, speeding and driving recklessly when his 2015 Dodge Charger slammed into a 2018 Ford Edge driven by Riano just south of Congress Street, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.
Riano, her 30-year-old male passenger and Ortiz-Guananga were all taken to Jersey City Medical Center, where Riano was pronounced dead about eight hours later, Suarez said.
Riano's passenger was treated for non-life threatening injuries and Ortiz-Guananga was treated for severe leg trauma, she said.
Riano's death devastated those who knew her, including loved ones and friends who attended the plea hearing in Jersey City.
"Adriana had this incredible ability to find the good in everyone she met," according to a GoFundMe in her memory that had raised more than $42,700 as of Thursday morning. "If you need help or just some encouragement she was always there."
Assistants Prosecutor Leo Hernandez and Prosecutor Luisa Florez of Suarez's office secured the pleas in exchange for consecutive sentences of eight years for the death-by-auto count and a year for the assault-by-auto conviction.
Ortiz-Guananga must serve a little over 7½ years of that term before he'll be eligible for parole under the No Early Release Act.
Superior Court Judge Patrick J. Arre scheduled sentencing for Oct. 29.
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