MIAMI – An emotional hearing was held Thursday in Miami as Christopher Masferrer took a plea deal for killing three people while driving drunk in 2014.
Masferrer, an ex-Marine who his attorney said suffered from post traumatic stress disorder after returning from Afghanistan, said he takes full responsibility for the crash and apologized to the victims' relatives.
"Let me begin by saying that I take full responsibility for this incident. I blame my reckless and irresponsible behavior, nothing and no one else," he said while facing the judge.
Masferrer then turned directly to the victims' family members who were sitting in the courtroom and apologized to them.
"I'm sorry. That's all I have to say," he said through tears.
Masferrer was charged with vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, DUI involving serious bodily injury and DUI causing property damage.
Police said Masferrer was driving a car that slammed into Eduardo Hernandez, 45, after he pulled over to help Anapaula Saldana and Caroline Agreda, both 17, in April 2014, after their car had broken down near Southwest 157th Avenue and Southwest 56th Street.
According to an arrest affidavit, Masferrer told police he had eight beers and a shot of liquor at a bar prior to the crash. Police said his blood-alcohol level was 0.193 and he was driving 71 mph in a 40 mph zone.
The victims' relatives took turns speaking in court before Masferrer was sentenced.
"Sometimes, to this day, I stare at my phone in hopes that I'll receive a message from her, but then the tough reality sets in. I miss her so much," one woman said.
"My senior year will be tough," one of the girl's brothers said. "I will now have to take my senior pictures with a frame that no longer has her picture and, most importantly, she won't be there to see me walk the stage as a graduate."
"This pain will never go away," Hernandez's wife said. "We are still numb at this horrific event that could have, should have not happened."
Masferrer was sentenced to five years in prison for each life he took for a total of 15 years.
Before he was taken away in handcuffs, he gave a final apology to his parents.
Masferrer's attorney said his client hopes to work with fellow Marines who suffer from PTSD when he gets out of prison, in hopes of helping them stay on the right path.