Earl Township man sentenced after pleading guilty to causing a fatal crash while DUI

An Earl Township, Lancaster County man has been sentenced to four to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to causing a fatal crash while driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol during a torrential downpour.You can view News 8 headlines in the video player above. Charges and guilty pleaLuis Gustavo Cruz, 31, of the 400 block of Jared Way, pleaded guilty on June 10 to:Homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence.Homicide by vehicle.3 counts of driving under the influence.3 summary traffic offenses.The crash killed a 72-year-old driverAuthorities said Cruz crashed his vehicle nearly head-on into another car driven by 72-year-old Ralph Groff in the 2000 block of Horseshoe Road in East Lampeter Township on May 3. Groff was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigation findingsPolice said Cruz initially told investigators he was traveling about 40 mph when Groff crossed into oncoming traffic and struck his vehicle shortly after 10 p.m.But surveillance footage showed Cruz crossing into the opposite lane and hitting Groff’s vehicle, according to authorities. An analysis of Cruz’s vehicle found he was traveling nearly 70 mph in a 50-mph zone seconds before the crash. Blood draws taken about 30 minutes after the collision showed Cruz was under the influence of cocaine and THC and had a blood alcohol content of 0.052%, authorities said. Police also said neither Cruz nor his juvenile son, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash. Restitution orderedAs part of his sentence, Cruz was ordered to pay more than $6,500 in restitution to Groff’s family for funeral expenses.