EARL TOWNSHIP – An Earl Township man was sentenced to four to 10 years in prison after he pleaded guilty this month to killing a man in a near-head-on traffic collision as he was driving drunk and high through a torrential downpour.
Surveillance footage from the evening of May 3 showed Luis Gustavo Cruz, of the 400 block of Jared Way crossing into oncoming traffic where he struck another vehicle driven by 72-year-old Ralph Groff in the 2000 block of Horseshoe Road in East Lampeter Township. An analysis of Cruz’s vehicle showed that he was traveling nearly 70 mph in a 50-mph zone. Groff was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Blood tests showed Cruz to be under the influence of cocaine, THC and alcohol,
On June 10th, Cruz pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, homicide by vehicle, three counts of driving under the influence and three summary traffic offenses.
As part of Judge Dennis Reinaker’s sentence, Cruz must also pay more than $6,500 in restitution to the victim’s family for funeral expenses.