Federal Way man sentenced for crash that killed Kent baby

A Federal Way man was sentenced to two-and-a-half-years in prison following a crash that killed a Kent baby and injured the mother.

Alexis Andaluz Lozano, 19, was sentenced July 18 to 30 months in prison for vehicular homicide. This charge stems from an Oct. 21, 2024, crash on State Route 18 that killed 21-month-old Altyn Grinnell Stevens and injured his mother, Carmen Pauza.

According to court documents, with an offender score of two because he was also charged with vehicular assault for injuring Pauza, his sentencing range for vehicular homicide was between 26 and 34 months. According to documents, the state recommended a sentence of 34 months, and the defense recommended a sentence of 26 months.

According to the sentence recommendation from Lozano’s defense, this case involved a terrible lapse of judgment, so there is no reason to believe Lozano will engage in any further criminal behavior. Lozano’s defense stated that Lozano would not hurt someone intentionally, and he plans to continue his education upon release.

Lozano pleaded guilty to the charges on July 2.

Details of the incident

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 Pauza, the mother of 21-month-old Stevens. Pauza was on her way to pick up her daughter at daycare, according to documents. According to documents, Pauza suffered a severely broken arm and other injuries, had multiple surgeries, and was confined to a wheelchair in the months after the crash.

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?”