Edgar Ernst of Rio Linda was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison when he pleaded no contest in Yuba County Superior Court to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
The 38-year-old Ernst was initially charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, DUI causing injury, and misdemeanor counts of driving without a license, and possessing paraphernalia, and pleaded no contest in August.
On April 30, 2021, Ernst crossed the center line on Highway 70 in his 1994 Honda Accord and ran into Brian Allen’s 2007 Kia Optima, head-on. Allen was killed in the accident after suffering a major head injury.
Allegedly, Ernst had been smoking methamphetamine when the collision occurred and was found with a meth pipe in his possession.
