An Odessa man accused of killing four people while driving drunk in a stolen pickup truck was sentenced to 60 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to four counts of intoxication manslaughter. Two intoxication assault charges were dismissed, but a civil lawsuit remains pending.
According to Ector County District Court documents, Leo Andre Flores, now 24, found spare keys left in a pickup truck owned by Cerca Downhole Technologies on May 26, 2021, and stole the truck. On June 22, 2021 authorities say Flores was driving the truck drunk when he rear-ended a Hyundai Santa Fe traveling southbound on Grandview Avenue, causing it to roll and strike a parked vehicle. He then went into the northbound lanes where he struck a Toyota Highlander head-on.
Killed were Laura Brown, 55, and her husband, Heriberto Hernandez, 55, who were in the Toyota and Rubio Garcia, 37, and Cynthia Leyva, 41, who were in the Hyundai. Laura Brown’s son, Steven Brown, 27, and Adriel Flores were seriously injured.
Leo Flores fled the scene on foot and later tried to evade officers before being arrested.
Ector County District Judge Denn Whalen presided over the case.
Steven Brown and Heriberto Hernandez III and Maggie Lopez, the children of Heriberto Hernandez and Laura Brown, filed a lawsuit last August against Cerca Downhole Technologies, Flores and the man who allegedly left the spare keys in the truck, John White.
They are seeking more than $1 million in damages.
