The driver in a 2023 crash that killed a 17-year-old girl will serve three years in prison, WTOP reported. On Thursday, Fairfax County Circuit Court judge sentenced Jose Zelaya to 10 years with seven years suspended.
On July 18, 2023, Jose Zelaya was driving 87 miles per hour on Burke Centre Parkway — a 40-mile-per-hour zone — when he struck the car driven by 17-year-old Rebekah Zarco, who was turning left as she exited the Burke Centre Shopping Center parking lot.
Witnesses said Zelaya appeared to be racing along the parkway.
Zarco, a recent graduate of Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, died from her injuries. Zarco’s younger brother and two friends were also in the car and were injured but survived.
Zelaya pleaded guilty to manslaughter in December 2025.
“There is no prison sentence that can do justice for the loss of a young life,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Steve Descano said in a statement. “The sentencing guidelines in this case were 0-6 months of active incarceration; my office argued for a sentence of six years.”
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
