A man who drove while drunk and caused a fatal crash early Christmas morning heard from the heartbroken family of Gregorio “Greg” Dominguez, a father, grandfather, brother, coworker, friend and dedicated community volunteer.

Bladamir Agustin Chavez, 28, was sentenced Tuesday in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria to six years in state prison after pleading guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for the crash on West Main Street (Highway 166) between Santa Maria and Guadalupe. 

At about 1:30 a.m. on Christmas Day on Highway 166 east of Simas Road, Chavez was driving east in a Toyota Camry at an unknown speed when he veered over the double yellow lines, according to the California Highway Patrol.

His Toyota slammed head-on into a westbound Infinity sedan, killing the driver. Dominguez, a 65-year-old Guadalupe resident, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Before Judge Kristy Imel sentenced the defendant, family members shared emotional statements about the loss of their patriarch.

As they spoke about how the defendant’s deadly decisions “crushed all our hearts,” several supporters wore custom pins showing Dominguez sporting a big smile.

“From now on, every Christmas won’t be a holiday,” said Jade Dominguez, his youngest daughter. “It will be a reminder of the choice you made and the life we lost.”

Along with driving on the wrong side of the road, Chavez didn’t have a license plus had 11 empty Modelo beer bottles in the vehicle.

A preliminary screening device determined Chavez’s blood alcohol content at 0.14% about 30 minutes after emergency personnel responded to the crash.

Instead of celebrating Christmas, the Dominguez family said they mourned their loss, telling Chavez what he took from them.

“You do not know he was going home to rest because at 7 a.m. we had plans to see Santa,” Jade Dominguez said. 

Instead, she had to tell her daughter about her grandfather’s death. 

“She asks for him every day,” Jade Dominguez said, adding that she can only share photos, videos and memories.

The death of the grandfather also left the young child with fear.

“She’s now terrified someone’s going to crash into me and I’m not coming home to her,” Jade Dominguez said. 

Greg Dominguez most recently worked as a security officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, which operates a medical clinic on East Main Street.

He volunteered in the community, including with the Moose Lodge, the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo and more.

“My grandfather was the most selfless, caring person I knew,” granddaughter Analicia DeLaPaz wrote, adding that he was her No. 1 fan and the loss left her with a giant hole in her heart.

When Chavez made the choice to drive while intoxicated, he endangered himself and others, another daughter, Sireena Dominguez, said. 

“Unfortunately, those choices changed our lives forever,” she said.

The grieving daughters recalled their father being the voice of reason, providing words of encouragement, serving as a family fixer and displaying his corny sense of humor.

Oldest daughter Sherree Dominguez talked about the toll the loss has taken on the family, sharing about her final memories of her dad excitedly revealing the gifts he just had purchased for his grandchildren.

Her son is restoring his grandfather’s truck, and when a mechanical question arose, Sherree Dominguez said her first instinct was to suggest calling her dad. 

“We can’t do that anymore,” she said.

Instead, she said, they only can visit his grave.

“We go and talk to dirt. That’s all we have,” she said, echoing other relatives who said they believed Chavez should have a longer sentence.

“There’s a huge void on special days I will never fill,” her sister, Jade Dominguez, added. 

Under the plea deal, Chavez was sentenced to six years in state prison. Other charges including driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol content above 0.08% and for being an unlicensed driver were dismissed. 

Deputy District Attorney Tyson McCoy noted that the family’s statements showed what a great man Gregorio Dominguez was to those who knew him. 

“He made a tremendous impact on people,” McCoy added. 

Defense attorney Michael Scott said his client admitted responsibility for drunken driving and causing the crash. 

Speaking through an interpreter, Chavez also made a brief statement before he left the courtroom. 

“I can’t give you back your loved one, but I’m very sorry,” Chavez said.