Leighonna Post’s life was turned upside down on January 7 when her mother and two young brothers were killed in a drunk driving accident in Henderson.

“I have to navigate life without my family being complete because really, the only family I ever knew was my mom and my brothers,” Post, 20, said in -a courtroom Tuesday, speaking rapidly during a sentencing hearing for Darryl Smith. the man who caused the DUI crash earlier this year. “I don’t have that anymore, I’m truly an orphan now.”

Smith, 37, pleaded guilty in September to two counts of driving under the influence resulting in death and one count of reckless driving resulting in death. He was charged in connection with the DUI crash that killed Rebecca Post, 38, and her two sons, Achilles Quintanilla, 6, and Leo Post-Quintanilla, 5.

The family was stopped at a red light at Lake Mead Parkway and Grand Cadence Drive when Smith’s Dodge truck crashed into them. Prosecutors said Smith’s blood-alcohol level was twice the legal limit, and Smith told police he had three glasses of wine before driving, according to a police report.

When Smith pleaded guilty, he accepted a sentence of 16 to 40 years in prison. District Judge Erika Mendoza said she would follow the agreed sentence and that the case was “terrible for everyone.”

The judge was seen wiping a tear from her eye as she spoke.

Relatives dressed in black in the courtroom

Mendoza said he believes Smith’s attorney and prosecutors worked out the deal while considering potential legal issues in the case “that could have led to a worse outcome.”

Family and friends of Rebecca Post crowded the courtroom Tuesday, many dressed in black. Family members who spoke to the judge said the accident could have been avoided.

“If the defendant had made a different choice in the series of events that took place that night, none of us would be here today,” said Sara Martin, Rebecca Post’s sister. “He could have chosen not to open the driver’s door of his truck. After opening the door, he could have chosen not to sit in the driver’s seat. After sitting in the driver’s seat, he could have chosen not to turn on the ignition, and after turning on the ignition, he could have chosen to turn off the vehicle and not drive.”

Leighonna Post described her mother as “the strongest woman anyone in this room will ever know.” She said Achilles was “strong-minded” and known for his witty comebacks, while Leo was easy-going, kind and gentle. She said her siblings have their whole lives ahead of them.

“On January 7th, a part of me died that night,” said Leighonna Post. “Happiness and love were stolen from me that night when an irresponsible adult decided to get into a vehicle drunk.”

Troy Quintanilla, Post’s partner and father of the two boys, expressed his greatest anger when he made his victim impact statement during the hearing. He turned to look at Smith, from where he sat with other inmates in custody across the courtroom.

“I don’t even know you, but I despise you,” he said. “I really don’t have much to say. I noted a lot, but there’s no reason to say it because everyone else has.”

During a court hearing in July, Troy Quintanilla faced Chief Justice David Gibson about Smith’s bail and then confronted Smith’s attorney outside the courthouse. In January, Troy Quintanilla also confronted one of Smith’s family members outside the courthouse, fleeing from police officers, who then shocked him with a stun gun.

He left court immediately after Smith’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

“I can’t apologize enough”

Smith’s attorney, Thomas Moskal, said his client could have continued to litigate the case on several legal issues, but that Smith wanted the case resolved relatively quickly. Moskal said there were problems with the late timing of a blood draw that tested Smith’s blood alcohol level and that he could have challenged the search warrants used in the investigation.

“He went ahead and took a deal that is tougher than most of the deals that are made by the DA’s office in many cases like this,” Moskal told the judge.

Smith read his own statement to the judge, apologizing to his family and saying the crash was an accident.

“I can’t apologize enough to bring back my loved ones or to be fully forgiven for what I did,” Smith said, reading his statement. “I hope one day you understand me, understand that this was an accident and find it deep in your hearts to forgive.”

Following the hearing, Leighonna Post said Smith’s statement left her “speechless”. She pointed to Smith’s criminal record, which included a case in which he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor speeding violation in May 2023 and was ordered to participate in community service and a DUI program through the Clark County Coroner’s Office just a few months before the accident in January.

Smith also previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI charge in 2009, court records show.

“This isn’t the first time he’s been arrested for this,” Leighonna Post said. “This is the third time and the third time it took the lives of three members of my family.”

Contact Katelyn Newberg at [email protected] or 702-383-0240.