Big rig driver from Baltimore sentenced for killing 19-year-old Fresno County student

A Baltimore big rig driver was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison for causing a fatal car crash that killed 19-year-old Olivia Mendoza of Caruthers.

Andre Hill Jr., 35, was charged with vehicular homicide with gross negligence after his semi-truck, carrying 80,000 pounds of produce, blew through a stop sign at Mountain View and Clovis avenues, just west of Selma on Sept. 27, 2019.

Hill’s big rig collided with Mendoza’s Honda Civic, killing her.

Mendoza’s tragic death caused a wave of sadness that still lingers among her family, friends and the community who fondly remember her for her smarts, athletic ability and kind heart.

At Hill’s sentencing, his attorney Wade Freitas urged Judge Houry Sanderson to consider probation rather than prison.

Freitas argued that Hill accepted responsibility early on and has no criminal record. He also said the pressure on truck drivers to get their loads picked up and delivered so that they can earn a decent wage, contributes to the lack of sleep among drivers.

Freitas said that on any given day people are driving with a lack of sleep and accidents can happen like it did for Hill.

Prosecutor Lisa Urrizola said the stakes are much higher for big rig drivers who are driving while drowsy, and Hill appeared to have done it more than once.

A report by the California Highway Patrol found that over the course of four and a half days, Hill only had 17 hours of sleep. The day before the crash, he had 25 minutes rest and the day of the collision he slept for three hours and 23 minutes, Urrizola said.

“This individual was driving a deadly weapon,” Urrizola said. “Normally trucks aren’t a deadly weapon but when you lack rest they can become a deadly job. There is no job, including ours your honor, where we can be a good employee when you lack rest and this man was driving a truck on the road.”

Hill spoke briefly during his sentencing, saying: “I would like to say I am sorry and I wish I could take it back.”

Before issuing her sentence, the judge wanted to hear from Olivia’s family and friends.

Her mother, Christina Casares Trujillo said her heart is broken over the loss of her daughter. She recalls with pride “Libby’s” accomplishments, including being a straight-A student, athlete, leader and role model for her siblings. Libby told her mom that she wanted to be the first female president, FBI agent, or a judge.

“She had big dreams and big goals,” Trujillo said, breaking down in tears. “Some say if your dreams don’t scare you, your dreams aren’t big enough.”

Her father Jaime Mendoza misses his daughter’s silly text messages urging him to skip work to have lunch with her.

“I miss that so much,” he said, crying. “It is so hard to go on everyday without her.”

Mary Mendoza, Olivia’s grandmother, said she was her “sidekick.”

“She was my chicle (Spanish for gum), “ Mendoza said. “She was always stuck with me, we would take road trips, and we got hooked on going to thrift stores and yard sales, she loved doing that with me.”

Her best friend, Rosie Ventura, won’t forget eating hot pockets before school, watching Olivia play soccer and softball, or planning out their futures together, including getting married and raising families.

“She was going to be my bridesmaid and our kids would become athletes and we would be the moms sitting on the bleachers cheering our kids on,” she said.

The judge denied probation for Hill and sentenced him to two years in prison. She added that while she understands Hill’s family’s is suffering, too, it doesn’t compare to what the Mendoza’s are going through.

“Your family will still enjoy your presence in their lives, they all know where you are and they can look forward to the day you return,” Sanderson said. “Olivia’s family will only have the ability to visit her grave. They can only talk about her because her life came to an end. On that day in question you drove that vehicle without proper sleep and without proper rest.”

The judge also approved restitution in the amount of $7,969 for Mary Mendoza and $3,400 for Christina Casares Trujillo.