An Arizona man has received a sentence of over 20 years for causing a deadly crash that killed three college students. This tragic incident occurred in October 2022 when the driver, Vincent Ian Acosta, was driving the wrong way while under the influence of alcohol.
The 27-year-old Acosta was sentenced to 22 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of second-degree murder, as announced by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell.
The unfortunate accident happened just before 4 a.m. on October 10, 2022, when Acosta drove southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 17, near New River. He collided with several vehicles, including a Honda Accord that was transporting three freshmen from Grand Canyon University.
The victims were identified as Abriauna Hoffman, 18, and Magdalyn Ogden, 18, both from Clarkston, Washington, and Elaine Hunter Balberdi, 19, from Kula, Hawaii. Balberdi and Ogden were pre-med students at the university, while Hoffman was studying marketing and advertising. They were roommates who were on their way to see the sunrise at the Grand Canyon when their lives were tragically cut short. Two of the students died at the scene, and the third succumbed to injuries at a hospital.
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Sam Meyer expressed his deep sympathy for the victims’ families, stating that no punishment could truly bring back their daughters. Acosta’s sentence includes credit for the 813 days he has already spent in custody. At the time of the crash, he had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.129, significantly above Arizona’s legal limit of 0.08. Acosta was found unconscious at the crash site and later pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2024. His sentencing was initially scheduled for September but was delayed due to a change in judges.
