Stanley Jonathan Arthur Isaacs, 60, died after he and his wife were struck while walking in a marked crosswalk in Laguna Beach on Aug. 11, 2022. Prosecutors say Isaacs suffered catastrophic injuries, including an "internal decapitation."
Driver Sysillia Morrison Montes De Oca returned to the scene, later searched online about deadly hit-and-runs, and was convicted last week of gross vehicular manslaughter and hit-and-run charges. Sentencing is set for November.
A California man, Stanley Jonathan Arthur Isaacs, 60, died after he and his wife were struck while walking in a marked, well-lit crosswalk in Laguna Beach on Aug. 11, 2022. Prosecutors say the impact caused catastrophic injuries described during the trial as an "internal decapitation", along with a fractured skull, a spinal fracture and multiple broken ribs.
City officials and local reporting indicate that Isaacs and his wife were celebrating an anniversary when Sysillia Morrison Montes De Oca’s car struck them. Witnesses and the investigation revealed that Montes De Oca told other occupants in the vehicle moments before the collision that she would "speed up." Isaacs was thrown into the air by the impact; his wife sustained minor injuries and was released from the hospital.
Prosecutors say Montes De Oca returned to the scene with a friend after the crash. She later used the internet to search for information about deadly hit-and-runs, according to the Deputy District Attorney. Authorities located her vehicle in a parking garage before she ultimately turned herself in.
Last week a jury found Montes De Oca guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter, hit-and-run causing permanent and serious injury, and failing to stop at a hit-and-run with injury or death. She is scheduled to be sentenced in November. Local outlets that covered the case include the Orange County Register, KTLA and the Los Angeles Times.
Isaacs’s online obituary remembered him as a devoted father, grandfather and husband whose "smile transcended this world" and whose "dance moves were unparalleled." He was a train enthusiast who created a community holiday display called Santa’s Winter Wonderland and cherished time with his seven grandchildren.
This case highlights concerns about driver behavior, pedestrian safety in marked crosswalks, and the consequences of leaving a collision scene. Sentencing in November will determine the legal consequences for Montes De Oca.
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