Judge imposes 14-year term after jury conviction in fatal Frazier Avenue collision
CHATTANOOGA — A Hamilton County judge on Monday sentenced Randy Vega to 14 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction following his conviction in a November 2023 crash on Frazier Avenue that killed a Chattanooga mother and her infant son.
The sentence was handed down after attorneys for the defense and prosecution made final arguments in Vega's sentencing hearing. According to court remarks, the judge credited Vega with three years served behind bars since his arrest in 2023, making his remaining term effectively 11 years.
“I would like to send my most sincere condolences to Mr. Paz and his family. I hope that Mr. Paz finds compassion in his heart to be able to forgive me.”
The remarks above were delivered in court by Vega as he addressed the family of the victims. The prosecution, represented in court by Sean Boers, told the judge that Vega had not fully accepted responsibility for the collision.
Family members of the victims testified at the hearing about the impact of the crash. Octavio Paz — the husband of the slain woman and father of the infant who also died — spoke through a translator about the profound loss and ongoing pain stemming from the collision. He described his grief, the difficulty of burying his child and the long-lasting emotional wound left by the tragedy.
What the sentence includes
In addition to the prison term and credit for time served, the judge ordered a period of restricted driving privileges. Vega will face a five-year suspension of his driver's license once he is released.
| Item | Length |
|---|---|
| Total prison sentence | 14 years |
| Jail credit (time already served) | 3 years |
| Remaining sentence after credit | 11 years |
| Driver's license suspension upon release | 5 years |
The defense attorney, Mike Little, urged the court to impose a lesser sentence, citing Vega's prior military service and an absence of earlier criminal convictions. The prosecution countered that apologies offered in court did not amount to taking responsibility for causing the deaths and injuries.
Background and local impact
A jury found Vega guilty in July for the crash that occurred on Frazier Avenue in November 2023. According to trial testimony and the subsequent sentencing proceeding, Vega lost control of his vehicle and struck the family as they walked, killing a mother and her infant son and leaving Octavio Paz seriously injured.
The case drew sustained attention in Chattanooga over the past year, both because of the severity of the collision and the family's public testimony about their loss. In court on Monday, Paz described the long-term consequences for him and his household, appealing to the community's awareness of how one collision can forever change lives.
- Victims: A Chattanooga mother and her infant son were killed; Octavio Paz sustained serious injuries.
- Defendant: Randy Vega, previously held since 2023.
- Sentence: 14 years with three years' credit; five-year license suspension upon release.
The sentence concludes this phase of the criminal case following the jury's guilty verdict. Any further proceedings, such as appeals, were not disclosed in court record summaries available after the hearing.
The outcome underscores continuing questions in Chattanooga about roadway safety and accountability when crashes result in fatalities. Local residents who use Frazier Avenue and surrounding neighborhoods have followed the case closely since the crash prompted an investigation and criminal charges almost three years ago.
Coverage of the case will continue as court filings and any subsequent legal actions become available to the public record.
