The accident occurred just outside of Miami on the Sawgrass Expressway in Coral Springs. Ms. Mendoza was heading east in the westbound lane at an estimated speed of 84 to 96 miles per hour.
The accident claimed the lives of Marisa Catronio, 21, who died at the scene, and Kaitlyn Ferrante, 21, who later died at a hospital.
Ms. Mendoza plead guilty to both charges of vehicular manslaughter this past February. She faced a maximum of 30 years in jail.
She will be banned from driving for life, and will have to serve six years of probation after being released. The families of the victims pushed for the maximum 30 year sentence.
The case drew national attention both of the severity of the accident, and the apparent freewheeling personality of Ms. Mendoza herself.
Ms. Mendoza tweeted that she was “2 drunk 2 care” just hours before the accident. Apparently, the tweet was in response to her boyfriend, who was upset that Ms. Mendoza was out drinking with coworkers.
A blood test found that Ms. Mendoza’s blood alcohol content level was twice the legal limit. Apparently, she had downed two jumbo-sized margaritas before getting into her boyfriend’s car to drive home.
The test also confirmed that Ms. Mendoza had marijuana in her system, earning her the nickname “pothead princess.”
Ms. Mendoza claimed that she would never forget the victims she killed, and still thinks about them every day. She expressed regret for her choices, and asked for forgiveness.
The brother of one of the victims, Justin Catronio, asked “how do you forgive someone who’s ruined your life and your family’s life forever?” and delivered a long, hard stare down.
The mother of the other victim, Christine Ferrante, noted that her daughter lost all of her dreams and opportunities.
Now, Kayla Mendoza will spend the next 24 years of her life behind bars.
