Background: News footage of Hetsel Campos in court on Aug. 19 (KLAS). Inset: Natalie Villegas (Guerrero Dean Funeral Home).
A man from Nevada admitted to driving under the influence and colliding with a U.S. Airman at a speed exceeding 100 mph. He was given nearly the harshest punishment permitted by law.
Hetsel Campos, aged 39, was detained after a crash on April 13, 2024, on a Nevada highway, which resulted in the death of 23-year-old U.S. Airman Natalie Villegas. Court documents, which CBS affiliate KLAS reported, revealed that Campos had a blood alcohol concentration twice the legal limit when arrested. In March, Campos had confessed to charges of DUI and reckless driving leading to death as part of a plea deal. His sentencing took place on Tuesday.
During the court session, as reported by KLAS, Campos addressed the attendees, including Villegas’ family, expressing his remorse, “I should be the one who is not here, not her.”
As per local ABC affiliate KTNV, the Nevada State Police investigation concluded that Campos was driving a Chevrolet Traverse at 117 mph on U.S. 95, northward, just before 7:00 a.m. on April 13, 2024. He rear-ended Villegas’ Hyundai Elantra, displacing both vehicles off the highway and overturning into desert terrain.
Villegas’ car ended up landing on its roof. Villegas, who was driving to work at Creech Air Force Base, was pronounced dead at the scene.
In court, Villegas’ father spoke to Campos, expressing, “You carelessly and selfishly intervened while she was on her way to serve our nation, robbing my daughter of everything.”
Judge Tara Clark Newberry of the Clark County District Court addressed Campos, stating, “My duty is to enforce justice and hold individuals accountable for their decisions. Regrettably, Mr. Campos, you made the worst decision imaginable that night.”
Campos was sentenced to six to 20 years in prison and will be eligible for parole in 2031.
