Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on July 11, 2019, Guillermo Serna Lopez pled guilty to DUI Manslaughter and Driving with No Valid License Resulting in Death. Circuit Judge Christopher Patterson sentenced Lopez to the maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The State was prepared to prove that on March 4, 2018, Lopez operated a Dodge Ram truck while under the influence of alcohol and struck the victim, Kimberly Mason, as she operated a Honda Accord at the intersection of SR-79 and Highway 98 in Bay County. Ms. Mason died instantly from the crash. Lopez later admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the crash. His blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.
The case was investigated by the Panama City Beach Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet.
For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.