Goshen Woman Convicted of Gross Vehicular Manslaughter

On December 10, 2018, in Department 6 of the Tulare County Superior Court, Visalia Division, Judge Gary Paden presiding, a jury convicted Ana Gomez, age 24, of one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and one infraction count of driving while using an electronic communications device.

Around mid-day on October 28, 2015, Gomez was returning to Tulare County from Hanford. She was travelling northbound on Road 52 towards Goshen when she ran the stop sign at Avenue 304, pulling her vehicle directly into the path of an oncoming motorcycle operated by the 65-year-old victim. Gomez failed to break and took no evasive action, resulting in a collision with the victim. Gomez and her vehicle came to a stop in a field around 170 feet away from the impact. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Cell phone records showed Gomez sent text messages in the minutes leading up to the collision.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 14, 2019, in Superior Court where prosecutors will argue for the maximum sentence under existing California law of six years in state prison.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Rodney Blaco and investigated by Officer Michael McWain of the California Highway Patrol and CriminalInvestigator Chris Porter of the District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigations.

Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Assistant District Attorney Dave Alavezos (559) 636-5494