Drunk driver sentenced for murder in 2021 crash that killed two Sacramento women
A 33-year-old man with two previous driving under the influence convictions was sentenced to 36 years to life in prison for driving drunk in a 2021 Sacramento crash that killed two women and seriously injured another person.
On Wednesday, Sacramento Superior Court Judge Kenneth sentenced Ricardo Beltram after he was convicted last year of two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Raquel Hudson and Dejuana Byrd. Both women were 28 and Sacramento residents.
Along with the murder charges, Beltram on June 12 pleaded guilty to two counts of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and DUI causing injury, the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
The deadly DUI crash was reported about 2:30 a.m. July 10, 2021, crash at Northgate Boulevard and the Arden Garden Connector near Sacramento’s South Natomas neighborhood.
Prosecutor said Beltran was driving his truck at more than 80 mph when he ran a red light at the intersection. Hudson, Byrd and another person were in a car with a green light and moving through the intersection at the same time.
Beltram’s truck hit their car, sending it down an embankment, crushing the passenger side compartment of the car, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Hudson and Byrd were pronounced dead at the scene. The other person in the car suffered broken bones and bruises. Beltram was removed from his truck and taken to a hospital.
Prosecutors said investigating officers at the scene found an open and almost empty bottle of Hennessy Cognac in Beltram’s truck.
At the hospital, Beltram showed signs of intoxication and was aggressive and uncooperative with Sacramento police officers, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said a blood test taken by hospital staff at 3:05 a.m. — 95 minutes after the reported crash — showed Beltram’s blood alcohol content was .27%, more than three times the driving limit of .08% in California.
Law enforcement officials later obtained a blood test from Beltram using a search warrant, prosecutors said, and his blood alcohol content was measured at .19% five hours after the fatal crash.
Beltram had two previous DUI convictions with an enhancement for causing great bodily injury, prosecutors said. After each of those convictions, the court advised Beltram that driving while intoxicated is extremely dangerous and might lead to a murder charge if someone is killed as a result.
Prosecutors said Beltram, after his second DUI conviction, participated in a Mothers Against Drunk Driving class and signed an additional advisement warning him of a potential murder charge for driving drunk and causing someone’s death.
On Thursday, Beltram remained in custody at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center near Elk Grove awaiting transfer to a prison.
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 4:36 PM.
