South Bay Deadly Car Surfing Case Settled

Santa Clara County prosecutors say a woman who was driving when her boyfriend was killed while car surfing will spend no more than a year in jail.
     
The San Jose Mercury News reported prosecutors say they struck a plea deal with 20-year-old Athena Ford of Sunnyvale. She was driving a Toyota Camry in May when her boyfriend, 20-year-old Paul Benabides, fell off the car's roof while it was going 30 to 40 mph and was dragged for a distance.

Benabides died after suffering major head injuries.

Police say alcohol and horseplay led to Benabides' death.

By striking a plea, Ford avoided a possible maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Ford's attorney says he expects her to be sentenced to a military-type training program that helps fight drug and alcohol addictions.