Inset: Jorge Alvarez-Mathuzima (Milwaukee County Jail). Background: Cops in Milwaukee, Wis., rescue a pregnant woman after Alvarez-Mathuzima slammed into her on the highway (WISN).
A Wisconsin man is heading to prison for nearly two decades after he killed a woman's unborn baby when he slammed into her car while driving the wrong way down the highway, causing a fiery crash.
Jorge Alvarez-Mathuzima, 40, was sentenced to 17 years behind bars followed by eight years probation after he pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree reckless homicide, court records say.
"He robbed this woman of a chance to be a mother," Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Grant Huebner told the court, according to local ABC affiliate WISN.
Alvarez-Mathuzima was arrested after his blood alcohol level was nearly two times the legal limit. While the woman who was about five and a half months pregnant survived, her unborn baby did not.
"He did so because he got drunk watching, I believe, the World Series, got into a car he should have never gotten into, drove past signs telling him it's the wrong way, drove past multiple cars, drove past a deputy, and drove into an expectant mother," Huebner said.
The crash occurred shortly before 4:30 a.m. Oct. 26 on Interstate 43. The woman's car caught fire upon impact. She was trapped inside. A Milwaukee County sheriff's deputy was able to pull her to safety.
Alvarez-Mathuzima took responsibility for his actions and asked for forgiveness.
"If I had the power to relive that moment, I would gladly trade places with you and sustain all of your injuries," he said during sentencing, per WISN. "I would gladly trade my life for that of your unborn son."
Judge David Swanson said the defendant appeared to have high character based on the number of letters supporting him but it does not make up for his actions that night.
"You took an incredibly careless and reckless risk with the lives of everyone who was on the road that early morning," Swanson reportedly said.
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