Man who killed child in drunk driving crash near River of Lights sentenced to 25 years in prison

ALBUQUERQUE, NM (KRQE) –The man who killed a seven-year-old boy in a drunken hit-and-run crash outside the River of Lights in 2021 will spend more than two decades behind bars. Sergio Almanza was sentenced on Tuesday, but before the judge announced his verdict, the family of Pronoy Bhattacharya was allowed to speak on the boy’s behalf, two days after his tenth birthday.

“He had an extremely bright future ahead of him and would have changed the lives of so many people if his life had not been ended by a callous, ruthless man,” said Aditya Bhattacharya, Pronoy’s father.

Almanza was drinking at a restaurant on Dec. 12, 2021, before getting behind the wheel of an ATV and driving down Central Ave. Pronoy and his father were crossing the street, coming from the River of Lights, when Almanza hit them. Pronoy died at the scene. His father suffered numerous injuries. “The last moment I had with him was crossing the street, his hand in mine. The next time I saw him, he was in a coffin,” said Aditya Bhattacharya.

He said Pronoy’s little brother is still traumatised. “He still panics whenever he sees a moving car because he thinks every driver behind the wheel is another monster who thinks nothing of mowing down an innocent child and his parents. He doesn’t even feel safe when we hold his hands because he knows full well that his father held Pronoy’s hand that night and that didn’t help in the slightest,” said Aditya Bhattacharya.

Almanza fled to Mexico before turning himself in more than a month later. In September, he was found guilty of manslaughter while intoxicated, aggravated assault while intoxicated, hit-and-run and other offenses.

Judge Brett Loveless sentenced Almanza to 25 years in prison. Almanza’s attorney said that while they respect the jury’s decision, his client insists he was not drinking and that this was a case of reckless driving. It is unknown if they will appeal.