Florida woman who tweeted '2 drunk 2 care' before driving wrong way down expressway and killing two is sentenced to 24 years in jail
Kayla Mendoza's vehicle crashed into another car at 96mph
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Florida woman who tweeted "2 drunk 2 care" before driving the wrong-way down an expressway at 96mph, killing two people in a head-on collision, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
Kayla Mendoza was under the legal drinking age in November 2013 when she went out to a bar with co-workers and drank two fish bowl-sized alcoholic margaritas, NBC reports.
She posted the tweet "2 drunk 2 care" before getting into her car, driving down the Sawgrass Expressway and slamming into a car carrying Marisa Catronio, 21, who died at the scene, and Kaitlyn Ferrante, 21, who died in hospital.
The 22-year-old later said the tweet was directed at her boyfriend because the pair had argued that night.
Mendoza, who broke both of her legs and sustained head injuries in the crash, pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI manslaughter in February.
"I know that I have made mistakes and the outcome is so much more than I could ever imagine," she told the sentencing hearing between tears on Monday.
"No matter how much time passes they will never leave my heart. I think about them every day and I regret my choices every day."
The families of both women had pleaded with the judge to administer the maximum 30-year sentence.
Ms Ferrante’s mother addressed Mendoza at the hearing, telling her: “You took all of those dreams [of our daughter growing up] away. And then I had to make the choice to pull her off of life support, that's something a mother should never have to do."
Mendoza has also been banned from driving for life.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments