Drunk driver convicted in death of aspiring model who beat cancer

A Costa Mesa man was convicted  of killing a 20-year-old aspiring model while driving drunk on Valentine’s Day last year.

A jury on Thursday convicted Gustavo Vega, 23, of killing Cara Lee, a passenger in another car, in a collision at the intersection of Sunflower Avenue and Flower Street, after he sped through a red light in his Toyota Tundra early on the morning of Feb. 14, 2010, according to prosecutors.

He was convicted of one felony count of murder, one felony count of hit-and-run resulting in death, and one felony count of possession of cocaine, prosecutors said.

Lee was an aspiring model who had beaten cervical cancer and worked as a recreational youth leader in Newport Beach, according to O.C. Now.

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--Lauren Williams, Times Communuty News.

Photo: Cara Lee. Credit: Family photo.