ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A judge sentenced a man to a lighter sentence than expected for a street racing crash into a school bus full of students in southwest Albuquerque.

In December, Mario Perez pleaded no contest to charges he faced for crashing into the bus while reportedly street racing. He initially faced 17 counts of child abuse, resulting in great bodily harm, before pleading no contest to the five counts of reckless driving, resulting in great bodily harm.

Perez faced a recommended sentence of 15 years. However, Judge Bruce Fox sentenced him to four years Monday.

According to the criminal complaint, Perez was racing his white Ford Mustang against a blue Mustang on westbound Gibson Boulevard when a bus crossed Gibson while traveling northbound on Messina Drive.

Perez crashed into the passenger side of the bus, causing it to roll onto its side. A witness estimated Perez’s car hit around 110 mph in the 40 mph zone.

The bus had 23 students on board. Seven students were injured, including two of them who needed surgery.

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