Teen Live Streams DUI Crash That Kills Sister

In a tragic turn of events, a California teen has been jailed after live streaming an automobile crash that left her 14-year-old sister dead. Authorities and news media have indicated that Obdulia Sanchez, the 18-year-old driver, was under the influence of drugs or alcohol, however, further details have not been released. Sanchez reputedly refused to speak with California Highway Patrol investigators. According to officers, Sanchez drove with her younger sister and another 14-year-old friend in the back seat, both of whom were not buckled. The live-streamed Instagram video offers a window into the events of the crash; Sanchez was able to continue recording even after the vehicle rolled over in Los Banos. She can be heard telling the camera, "I (expletive) killed my sister, ok. I know I'm going to jail for life....This is the last thing I wanted to happen. OK, alright. I don't (expletive) care though, Imma hold it down. I love you, rest in peace, sweetie.” She continued recording her sister's body after the crash, “I fucking love my sister to death. I don't give a fuck. We about to die. This is the last thing I wanted to happen to us, but it just did.” Sanchez is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI of drugs/alcohol causing injury.

Her parents, Nicandro and Gloria Sanchez spoke with KFSN-TV news, explaining “I think she doesn't know what's happened. What I think, she knows she's done something wrong. She feels bad, but she still killed her own sister. It was an accident. It happened that way. Who knows why.” Specifying the circumstances of the crash, CHP says Sanchez swerved off the road and veered across the road after over-correcting her turn. The car crashed into a wire fence before rolling over. The second passenger survived the crash but was hospitalized with significant trauma to her right leg.

Unlike the commonplace DUI crash, this case has been aired across worldwide media outlets including the LA Times, Newsweek and Daily Mail, likely because of the Instagram streaming involved - it seems to add an element of incredulity to the case. The documentation of one's day, life and surroundings have become the norm in recent years, seemingly with no boundaries as to what one will broadcast. The ability to livestream offers people an immediate audience to their activities. It could be said that this sometimes encourages reckless behavior. One of Sanchez's followers, Mary Hernandez recorded the Instagram live stream, which was visible for 19 hours following the crash. Undoubtedly, prosecutors will use the recording in their case against Sanchez, who has been booked into Merced County Jail and is awaiting arraignment. It is not known whether she or her parents have obtained a legal representative as of yet.

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