Drunk driver who caused serious injuries in Perry crash sentenced to 12 years
The driver responsible for a 2025 crash in Perry that left its victims severely injured will serve more than a decade in prison, according to a news release from Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards.
Sergio Elizalde Lanciego, 50, pleaded guilty to three counts of serious injury by vehicle and one count of driving under the influence on Tuesday, the news release from the district attorney said.
His case stemmed from an incident in Perry where, while driving impaired, he ran a red light on the Sam Nunn Boulevard exit on I-75 and struck two vehicles, causing severe injuries to three victims.
Lanciego was arrested for DUI shortly after the incident. The blood draw and testing revealed that he had a “blood alcohol content level of 0.123,” the news release said.
As a result of his guilty plea, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by 33 years on probation.
“This case is a stark reminder that driving under the influence is not a simple mistake,” Edwards said. “It is a decision that puts every other person on the roadway at risk. Every impaired driver is a potential violent offender the moment they get behind the wheel.”
Crash caused cars to end up in ditch
On April 5, 2025, two cars were stopped at the red light on Sam Nunn Boulevard, waiting to get back onto I-75, the news release said. Lanciego left I-75 while speeding, ran a red light and struck the two vehicles.
The crash caused the three cars “to exit the roadway and end up in the ditch,” the news release said. All the cars involved in the crash were totaled.
The victims were from out of town: one vehicle contained a married couple from Tennessee who were returning from a cruise to celebrate their wedding anniversary, and the other was a Tift County driver who was visiting the area, the news release said.
The wife had a collapsed lung and brain trauma as a result of the crash. The husband also suffered a collapsed lung, concussion, broken ribs and multiple cuts and scrapes. The victim from Tift County had injuries to her neck and shoulder, the news release said.
“These were families traveling through our community, and in a matter of seconds, their lives were changed because one individual chose to get behind the wheel while impaired,” Edwards said.
