An illegal immigrant pleaded guilty yesterday to killing two people when he wrecked a truck while driving drunk in South Richmond.

Carmen Alejandro Garcia-Hernandez, 30, pleaded guilty in Richmond Circuit Court to two counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter in the deaths of Kathryn L. Jones, 44, and Joseph Owens, 40.

Prosecutors agreed to drop charges of DUI and felony hit-and-run.

Jones and Owens were standing with two other people outside a home on Snead Road on May 24 when the eastbound truck left the road and plowed into a parked car that crushed the victims into a third vehicle, said Richmond Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Tracy Thorne-Begland.

The incident happened about 11:20 p.m. as Jones was leaving a housewarming party.

Garcia-Hernandez's blood-alcohol level was 0.18 percent, more than twice the legal limit, Thorne-Begland said. Prosecutors also believe he was speeding.

The pickup he was driving was registered to his employer, R.J. Biringer Construction Co. Inc., whose owner, Ronald J. Biringer, was indicted March 19 by a federal grand jury on a charge of transporting illegal immigrants to Fort Lee.

A judge has since sealed the case, and federal officials wouldn't discuss it yesterday.

Also, administrators for the estates of Jones and Owens have filed separate wrongful-death lawsuits against Garcia-Hernandez and Biringer Construction. The Jones family is seeking $2.4 million; the Owens estate is asking for $3.5 million.

Thorne-Begland and defense attorney Dean C. Marcus agreed that Garcia-Hernandez has shown profound regret.

"Mr. Garcia-Hernandez has from the beginning just felt awful about what he did that night," Marcus said.

Members of the Jones family said they appreciate that Garcia-Hernandez has shown remorse, and they noted that the wreck was an accident. "We miss and love her dearly," said Jones' sister, Leona G. Jones.

Garcia-Hernandez is to be sentenced Dec. 9.
Contact Reed Williams at (804) 649-6332 or rwilliams@timesdispatch.com.