Anguished face of drunk-driving mom as she's jailed for horrible freeway mistake that killed both her children

A drunk-driving mother who allowed her kids to walk into traffic on a busy freeway to collect a bag that had fallen from the roof of their vehicle wept in court and begged a judge for mercy as she was sentenced.  

Sandra Ortiz, 34, pleaded guilty and was sentenced on Tuesday to three years and four months in state prison. 

The tragedy occurred in June 2023, when her two children were killed on a California freeway after leaving their SUV to 'retrieve bags, which had flown off' their vehicle.

Ortiz wept in court as she pleaded with Judge Saba Sheibani and apologized.

'I want to say sorry to my kids,' Ortiz said. 'I made a huge mistake by drinking and driving. I should have never done that; it was a stupid mistake. I love my kids dearly.'

'I'm just asking you, I'm begging you, please Judge, give me a chance,' Ortiz pleaded in the courtroom.

The incident occurred on California's state Route 78 when Ortiz pulled over after a piece of luggage fell from the family's vehicle in June 2023.

Two of her children entered the freeway to retrieve the fallen item when an oncoming vehicle struck them, killing her 10-year-old son, Alan, and 16-year-old daughter, Amy.

Prosecutors revealed evidence showing the mother's blood-alcohol level was at a 0.14 percent, nearly twice the legal limit, two hours after the crash.

They also noted that she lacked a valid driver's license at the time of the incident.

Video footage reveals Ortiz crying in handcuffs as she handcuffed by officers in preparation to start her sentence.

During the sentencing, the children's grandmother appealed for leniency.

Speaking through a translator, Ortiz's mother-in-law pleaded with the judge.

'We need her ... I don't want the other children's lives to be ruined. They need their mother very much,' she said.

The mother had previously pleaded guilty to child endangerment and DUI charges. She faced a potential sentence ranging from probation to over 10 years in prison.

'It is very clear that society failed Sandra Ortiz in a number of ways,' Deputy Prosecutor Marnie Lyon said in court.

'When you are dealing with a case like this, there are no good outcomes,' Lyon to ABC 10. 'There's nothing that's going to bring those children back,'

'It is very difficult when the person who is responsible for the outcome as tragic as this, the death of two children, that that person is a parent,' she continued.

Ortiz was originally arrested for DUI, gross vehicular manslaughter and child endangerment.

In July, Ortiz was jailed for violating her supervised release three times in three weeks - after pleading not guilty to child endangerment and DUI charges.

Prosecutors said at the time that Ortiz violated her release by drinking alcohol, leaving San Diego County and leaving her monitor not charged for extended periods of time, CBS8 reported.

'It really is a privilege to be released on your own recognizance, supervised after a serious case like this,' Deputy District Attorney Stephanie DeJesus said after Ortiz's arrest. 

'That's why it's very important that the court admonish the defendant that there are strict conditions that they need to abide by to remain out on their own recognizance and if you fail to abide by those conditions, you will be remanded back to custody.'

A GoFundMe for the grieving family has raised $34,725 toward its $24,000 goal. 

'The Aguilar family is composed of Miguel, the grieving father; their loving Grandmother, who has been a pillar of strength; and four younger siblings who are struggling to comprehend the loss of their older brother and sister.'

'This unexpected tragedy has left the family emotionally shattered and financially unprepared for the costs associated with laying two young souls to rest.'