A 43-year-old man was sentenced today to four years in state prison for the death of his cousin who was killed when the car they were in struck a light pole in Lincoln Heights, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced.

In June, Jose Noe Lugo pleaded no contest to one count of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.

Deputy District Attorney Bob Chen prosecuted the case.

Lugo drove a car that had exited Interstate 5 on Feb. 22 when he struck a light pole, killing his 49-yearold cousin, Juan Mendez, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt in the front passenger seat.

Lugo fled from the crash site on foot but returned and was arrested.

Case BA444374 was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles County District Attorney / Case BA444374 / August 3, 2016