A California family is shattered after a suspected drunk driver slammed into their Downey home in the middle of the night, killing a grandmother in her sleep and injuring her granddaughter.
Around 1 a.m. on August 16, prosecutors say 24-year-old Ryan Mota lost control of his vehicle while under the influence and barreled straight into the quiet suburban house southeast of Los Angeles. Inside, 73-year-old Agia Guirguis and her 24-year-old granddaughter were asleep in their bedrooms.
Guirguis never woke up. She died instantly when the car crashed through the wall. Her granddaughter survived but suffered serious injuries and was rushed to a local hospital. Other family members sleeping in the home were jolted awake by the explosion of glass and debris but were not hurt.
“I heard a car going very, very fast,” neighbor David Crespo told KCAL. “Then I heard some sort of impact a few seconds later. The sound shook the street.”
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Mota with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and multiple felony DUI counts. Officials allege his blood alcohol level was at least twice the legal limit—0.15%—and that he refused to take a chemical test after the crash.
“There is no excuse for driving under the influence,” District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “My heart goes out to the victims and their families who experienced an unimaginable waking nightmare.”
If convicted, Mota faces up to 13 years and eight months in state prison. His bail is set at $200,000.
Friends and neighbors described Guirguis as a devoted grandmother and beloved presence in the Downey community. She was known for hosting family dinners and never missing her granddaughter’s milestones.
“This wasn’t just a random accident—it’s a life stolen,” a family friend told reporters. “She should have been safe in her own bed.”
The quiet city of Downey, located just 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles, is now grappling with the shocking loss. Residents say the crash is a grim reminder of the dangers of drunk driving.
As the investigation continues, Guirguis’ family is left to mourn a matriarch whose life ended in the most senseless way possible.
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osiyo, this is so sad seems you arent safe anywhere, prayers to Uhaloteka for her family, Running Doe