A Federal Way man has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault following an October 2024 crash on State Route 18 that resulted in the death of a Kent baby and injuries to the baby’s mother.
Alexis Andaluz Lozano, 19, pleaded guilty July 2 to vehicular homicide and vehicular assault and now faces a sentence of up to nearly three years in prison. These charges stem from an Oct. 21, 2024, incident where Lozano was reportedly driving at a high speed westbound on SR 18 near SE 240th Street in Maple Valley when he crossed over the median into the eastbound lanes and slammed into another vehicle.
According to court documents, the vehicle Lozano slammed into was driven by Carmen Pauza, who was with 21-month-old Altyn Grinnell Stevens. Pauza was on her way to pick up her daughter at daycare, according to documents. According to Lozano’s plea, Pauza suffered a severely broken arm and other injuries, had multiple surgeries, and was confined to a wheelchair in the months after the crash.
Lozano is scheduled to be sentenced July 18. The state recommends a 34-month sentence, which is the maximum sentence Lozano could receive under sentencing guidelines. Lozano’s defense recommends a 26-month sentence, the lowest sentence he could receive under sentencing guidelines.
According to documents, Lozano has no prior felonies on his record, so with only the concurrent vehicular assault charge contributing to his offender score, he has an offender score of two. A defendant’s offender score determines the sentence that the court can impose under sentencing guidelines.
According to the plea, Lozano was not under the influence of alcohol or marijuana when the crash occurred, but charging documents state that it was originally believed that he may have been under the influence. Documents state that marijuana was found in his vehicle after the crash, despite Lozano not being of legal age to buy marijuana.
According to Lozano’s sentence recommendation, officers thought that he was under the influence at the time of the crash, but he was lethargic due to the head trauma caused by the crash. According to Lozano’s plea, the crash was caused by his disregard for the safety of others by driving 74 mph in a 60 mph zone when it was heavily raining. He was passing traffic with bald rear tires, causing him to drive over the median and crash head-on with Pauza.
Seattle resident Andrea Al-Sudani, the older sister of Pauza, started a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost wages and rent.
“Our family was struck by an unimaginable tragedy,” Al-Sudani wrote. “My sister, brother-in-law and niece will forever be impacted by the day’s events. Carmen and my nephew Altyn (also known as Bubbs or Tintin) were involved in a devastating collision on Highway 18.”
Pauza managed to make a phone call right after the crash.
“While pinned in the vehicle after the crash, Carmen was able to call Altyn (whom little Altyn was named after), who rushed to the scene to see his family,” Al-Sudani wrote. “He has been at her bedside ever since, as she receives treatment at Harborview Medical Center.”
Al-Sudani said her family is caring for the couple’s 10-year-old daughter as Pauza recovers.
“Our family is deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, support, and prayers,” Al-Sudani wrote. “Thank you for standing with us in this time of unimaginable grief.”
According to charging papers, Lozano was initially hospitalized, but later cleared to be booked into jail.
A Washington State Patrol trooper interviewed Lozano after the crash and observed a container of marijuana in the vehicle, according to charging documents. When the trooper asked him what happened, he reportedly responded, “What happened with what?”
The trooper said the crash, and Lozano allegedly said, “What crash?”
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