San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a 19-year-old man who caused a soldier’s death while stealing his car in Coronado, was sentenced Friday, October 11 to 15 years-to-life in state prison.

Ricardo Vazquez-Gongora, who was 18 at the time of the crime, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on May 3, 2024. The stipulated sentence was handed down today by San Diego Superior Court Judge Michael Popkins.

Vazquez-Gongora was arrested last year for stealing 32-year-old Edward Foster’s car on June 11, then crashing it onto a toll booth right before crossing the Coronado Bridge, as Foster clung to the car’s hood in an attempt to get the driver to stop, gravely injuring him. The defendant fled the scene as the sailor was lying unresponsive on the ground and was later located hiding in the bushes near the Coronado golf course. Foster died after being taken off life support a few days later. He was a father of four stationed at Naval Air Station North Island and was working as an Amazon driver delivering packages when his car was taken by Vazquez-Gongora.

“The victim in this case, who was a father working to support his family, tragically lost his life due to a set of circumstances set in motion by this defendant’s utter disregard for human life,” said DA Summer Stephan. “We hope the resolution of this case brings a measure of justice and closure to the victim’s family.”

Deputy District Attorneys Makenzie Harvey and Donald McCann prosecuted this case.