A drunk driver who crashed into a young couple in the Crown Point area resulting in a woman’s death has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

On Sept. 12, Nestor Alejandro Hernandez, 24, admitted to driving “a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol…(and) with conscious disregard of life” that resulted in the death of Vanessa Urbina-Aragonez, 22.

Hernandez was driving 72 mph in a 25 mph zone with his cousins in the back seat when his Toyota Tacoma crashed into the victim and her boyfriend at 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 22, 2023. The cousins were not injured.

Urbina-Aragonez (above) and Brian Armente Zamora, 24, were standing beside their disabled Chevrolet Tahoe, which had a flat tire in the 3400 block of Riviera Drive of Pacific Beach. They were waiting for a rideshare.

Urbina-Aragonez was studying to be a nurse and had attended Mesa Community College, according to her brother. He added she had a great sense of humor and a generous heart.

Hernandez also admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol and causing great bodily injuries to Zamora, who survived and began using a wheelchair for mobility. He also admitted to being on probation at the time for driving under the influence of alcohol.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Dwayne Moring set sentencing for Nov. 22. Hernandez remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility without bail.

Deputy District Attorney Spencer Sharpe said Hernandez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and specifically 15 years to life for the death of Urbina-Aragonez.

“I anticipate the family of the victim will be present to make victim impact statements on Nov. 22,” said Sharpe.

Hernandez was driving at .16 blood/alcohol level when he struck the couple, according to previous testimony, which means he was driving at twice the level of felony drunk driving.

Moring could impose 15 years to life for the death, plus consecutive terms for the DUI injury to the boyfriend and being on probation for a prior DUI in 2021. In that incident, Hernandez had a .19 blood/alcohol level and struck a telephone pole.

His lawyer, Jamahl Kersey, said Hernandez at the time was a youth group leader at his church and worked in construction. His pastor, boss, and many relatives showed up at his bail review hearing 1 1/2 years ago, but a judge declined to reduce his bail.

At his preliminary hearing, an official from his earlier case testified he repeated a clause to him three times in a program that said if he ever killed someone while driving under the influence of alcohol, he would be charged with murder.