ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A judge on Tuesday will sentence a man convicted of driving drunk and hitting and killing a child near River of Lights.

Sergio Almanza was driving an ATV drunk when he ran a red light on Central in December 2021. At the same time, 7-year-old Pronoy Bhattacharya was crossing the street in the crosswalk with his family after leaving River of Lights.

Almanza crashed into Pronoy, killing him and injuring his father.

Albuquerque police and federal authorities sought Almanza for nearly two months. Then, in January 2022, the U.S. Marshals Service said Almanza surrendered to them in southwest New Mexico.

Almanza faced charges of homicide by vehicle, great bodily harm by vehicle, knowingly leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of tampering with evidence, and driving an off-highway motor vehicle on a paved street or highway. A jury convicted him on all charges last August.

Almanza faces 30 and 1/2 years in prison. Sentencing was to take place within 90 days but is happening Tuesday, nearly a year after his conviction.

The City of Albuquerque, the BioPark, the security company for River of Lights and the restaurant where Almanza consumed multiple drinks before the crash all face a lawsuit from the family. We’ll keep you posted on the status of that.

MORE:

• Family of Pronoy Bhattacharya files lawsuit against city, BioPark for deadly hit-and-run
• Jury convicts driver in boy’s death outside River of Lights
• Jury hears from parents of slain 7-year-old in Sergio Almanza trial
• Closing arguments heard in Sergio Almanza trial
• Grand jury indicts Sergio Almanza on 6 charges
• Suspect accused of fatal hit-and-run outside River of Lights turns himself in