Woman found guilty in hit-and-run incident in Laguna Beach that resulted in a man’s death while he was celebrating his anniversary.
A 22-year-old woman has been found guilty of multiple charges stemming from a tragic hit-and-run incident that resulted in the death of a 60-year-old man celebrating his wedding anniversary in Laguna Beach. Sysillia Kianna Morrison Montes De Oca was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run with serious injury, and failing to stop at the scene of an accident involving injury or death—each classified as felonies. The jury also confirmed the applicability of a sentencing enhancement due to her fleeing the scene after the vehicular homicide.
The incident took place on August 11, 2022, when Stanley Isaacs, a resident of Costa Mesa, was struck by Morrison Montes De Oca while walking in a crosswalk alongside his wife, Catherina, shortly after 9:40 p.m. The couple had just left Ristorante Rumari, where they celebrated their anniversary. Tragically, while Stanley Isaacs was killed in the collision, his wife sustained injuries.
According to the evidence presented in court, Morrison Montes De Oca was driving a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta when she collided with the couple. Prosecutors revealed she had previously expressed to her passengers a desire to increase her speed just moments before the crash. Following the incident, she returned to the scene accompanied by a friend and reportedly conducted online searches related to hit-and-run incidents, raising suspicions about her intent.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that the collision resulted in severe injuries to Stanley Isaacs, including an “internal decapitation,” a broken spine, skull fractures, and crushed ribs. He was propelled into the air due to the force of the impact. Prosecutor Justin Kim emphasized that the couple had nearly crossed the street safely in the crosswalk prior to the tragic event.
A co-defendant, Jack Francis Bannigan, previously pleaded guilty to charges for concealing the car involved in the accident and was sentenced to one year of informal probation alongside 120 hours of community service.
Defense attorney Mike Molfetta argued that there was no definitive proof that Morrison Montes De Oca was under the influence of marijuana at the time of the crash, suggesting that while marijuana was smoked earlier in the evening, it was unclear how that may have impacted her driving. He maintained that the prosecution painted his client in a negative light to secure a conviction.
Morrison Montes De Oca, just shy of her 19th birthday at the time of the collision, was described by her legal counsel as being in a dazed state following the accident, having left the scene under the urging of her friends. Eventually, she turned herself in to law enforcement.
The case is slated for sentencing on November 13, and it continues to raise discussions about driver responsibility and the consequences of impaired judgment on the road.
