Iowa man sentenced to 16 years in prison for drag-racing wreck that killed a young boy

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for a drag racing accident that killed a 4-year-old boy.

A jury in November found 48-year-old Keith Eric Jones of Des Moines guilty of vehicular homicide, operating while intoxicated, reckless driving and knowingly leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The verdict was pronounced on Thursday.

Another man, Robert Lee Miller III, was previously sentenced to 30 years in prison for his role in the Dec. 13, 2022, wreck that killed 4-year-old Marcos Faguada and injured his aunt, Mayra De Catalan.

Prosecutors said Jones and Miller were drinking at a bar. When they left, they started racing on a four-lane road. According to authorities, Miller's car reached a speed of 107 miles per hour before crossing the median and striking De Catalan's vehicle. Marcos and De Catalan's 8-year-old son were passengers. Marcos died in a hospital.

At Jones' sentencing, Marcos' mother said he liked to dance, tell jokes and wear superhero costumes.

“As a mother, my heart is broken and I am forever scarred because you took my son from me,” Elva Galvan told Jones. “I'm not the happy person I used to be.”

In addition to the prison sentence, Jones must pay $150,000 to Marcos' family.