Fatal DWI Driver Sentenced to 15 Years

 

A St. Joseph man that had previously pleaded guilty to being the person behind the wheel in a fatal crash that claimed the life of a young woman and her unborn child was sentenced to 15 years in prison Monday.

Buchanan County Circuit Judge Pat Robb Monday sentenced 30-year-old Steven Ayala to the maximum of 15 years in prison for Class B felony driving while intoxicated causing the death of another.

Ayala pleaded guilty to the charge in December admitting he was behind the wheel in January 2022 when he crashed into a vehicle being driven by 26-year-old Savannah Doman, killing her and her unborn child.

Court records show Ayala’s blood alcohol was tested at 0.15, nearly twice the legal limit, and he admitted to using narcotics and sedatives before the accident.