Former student sentenced for fatal drunken driving accident
Ryan Murphy
News Editor
Former VCU student Varinder Chahal has been sentenced to 15 months in prison and a $1,000 fine after a February car accident that led to the death of fellow student Carolina Perez.
The full sentence is five years with four years suspended for the manslaughter charge and 12 months with nine months suspended for the DUI. The $1,000 fine also accompanied the DUI charge.
“Clearly nothing that happened in court will reverse the tragic events that caused the loss of this very smart and caring person who meant so much to so many,” the Perez family said in a statement relayed through their attorney. “While the sentence delivered was less than expected, (we) hope that people will take notice of this tragedy and make better choices than the defendant.”
Chahal, who will turn 24 on Friday, pleaded guilty in July to charges of involuntary manslaughter and DUI. The accident, which occurred at South 2nd and East Canal streets, resulted in the death of Perez, who was 19 and pursuing a biology degree at VCU. Chahal never returned to VCU to complete his final semester.
“One life’s been taken, another one’s been ruined. There’s no winners here,” said Ed Riley, Chahal’s defense attorney.
Tearful friends and family filled both sides of the courtroom on Wednesday, Sept. 12, with almost two dozen of Chahal’s friends and family as well as a dozen friends and family members of the Perez family. Chahal’s relatives and acquaintances testified to his character and to his remorse over what they called a “terrible accident.”
“What we have here is inevitable. It’s not an accident. It’s a wanton, reckless disregard for life,” said Chris Toepp of the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, who was prosecuting Chahal. The office was seeking a five-year prison term for the involuntary manslaughter charge. The sentencing guidelines for the offense, considering Chahal’s criminal record, range from probation to 6 months. The maximum punishment is 10 years.
“I don’t think he will understand the loss of what Carolina’s family is going through until he has a child himself,” said Gabrielle Atkins, who had been in the accident with Perez. “ When he watches his daughter grow up, graduate college, get married, he’ll always remember that he took that away from someone.”
Chahal admitted to the police that he had been drinking before he drove through a red light and T-boned the Toyota Yaris containing Perez, Atkins and Jan Garcia. Chahal and the four passengers in his vehicle were not hurt. Richmond police said one of their officers witnessed the crash.
“Carolina was a very forgiving person. If she was here, she would bear no ill will,” Garcia said. “He did something very wrong and when we do wrong things, there are consequences that we have to step up and accept.”
Chahal was charged with involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence and refusal to take a breath test in the Feb. 22 crash. At a hearing in March, prosecutors raised the charge to aggravated manslaughter, which carries a maximum 20 year prison term. Through a plea deal that dropped the refusal charge and reduced the manslaughter charge to involuntary manslaughter, Chahal faced up to eleven years in prison.
The CT reported in February on the crash, and prompted the VCU community to come together after Perez’s death to establish “Carolina’s Pledge,” a denouncement of drunken driving in the student community.
