Woman, 22, sentenced to nearly 18 years in prison for death of pedestrian in DUI crash near Liberty Station
A woman who was driving under the influence of alcohol when she struck two pedestrians last fall near Liberty Station, killing one of them, was sentenced June 23 to nearly 18 years in state prison.
Jonnie Nicole Cunning, 22, pleaded guilty to charges including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
San Diego police said Cunning, driving a Kia Forte, struck the two 18-year-olds around 4:30 a.m. Nov. 11 on the east curb line of Rosecrans Street near Lytton Street, along the edge of The Loma Club golf course at Liberty Station.
Police said Cunning ran from the scene but was arrested about two blocks away.
Get Point Loma-OB Monthly in your inbox every month
News and features about Point Loma and Ocean Beach every month for free
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Point Loma-OB Monthly.
One of the pedestrians, Werner “Job” Weustenenk, a native of the Netherlands who was studying in San Diego at the time, died the following day at a hospital. The other, a classmate of Weustenenk’s, suffered a broken leg and a concussion.
Both were students at EF International Language Campus near the scene of the crash, according to a statement written by Weustenenk’s parents and read in court by Deputy District Attorney Cally Bright.
San Diego County Superior Court Judge Polly Shamoon chided Cunning before imposing the 17-year, eight-month sentence, saying: “This was not an accident. This was something you caused. Regardless of what sentence I give you today and that you stipulated to, you have to live with it for the rest of your life, because that 18-year-old doesn’t have a life anymore because of your selfishness.”