A New Mexico man who admitted to smoking meth and marijuana before crashing into a home, killing a grandfather sitting in his favorite recliner while watching TV, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The tragic incident occurred on December 28, 2023, when Mark Castello, 63, lost control of his vehicle and crashed through the garage of a home in Albuquerque. Brian Peterson, 74, was sitting in his recliner in the living room when the crash occurred. Castello pleaded guilty to homicide by vehicle, acknowledging the devastating impact of his actions on Peterson’s family.
The accident unfolded when Castello drove a white Ford Expedition through a stop sign, crashed into a parked car in the garage, and propelled the vehicle into the house. The second car struck Peterson while he was sitting in his chair, pinning him. His daughter, Tiffany Saiz, described the agonizing scene. Peterson remained trapped under the vehicle for more than 30 minutes before rescue personnel could extricate him. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Castello was also hospitalized for minor injuries, but his charges included driving while intoxicated (DWI) resulting in death, driving with a revoked license, and multiple drug-related offenses. Authorities found open containers of alcohol in his vehicle, and Castello admitted to being under the influence of meth and marijuana at the time of the crash. His extensive criminal history includes prior convictions for DWI, domestic violence, embezzlement, and forgery.
Peterson’s family was left devastated by the loss. Tiffany Saiz spoke emotionally in court, expressing the lasting pain her family would endure. “We will carry this pain for the rest of our lives,” she said. “There is no true healing from an event like this.” Peterson’s wife, Jean, who was in another room at the time of the crash, recounted the horror of the moment. She heard a violent crash, which she described as sounding like a bomb, and then saw her car in the living room, where she knew her husband had been sitting. Initially, she could not see him, but when she spoke to him, she heard his voice, though he was pinned by the car.
The emotional trauma of the incident has haunted Jean Peterson, as she continues to relive the moments of that fateful day. “All I could think about was Brian pinned under that car,” she said, reflecting on the distressing situation.
Brian Peterson was a beloved grandfather to 10 grandchildren, and his family remembers him as a constant source of support and strength. His wife, Jean, was described as the glue that held the family together, but it was Brian who was her rock. The Peterson family’s grief is compounded by the suddenness and senselessness of the accident.
This tragic incident highlights the dangers of impaired driving and the devastating consequences it can have on innocent lives. Mark Castello’s reckless actions have left a family broken, and his sentence of 10 years in prison serves as a reminder of the severe consequences that can follow when individuals choose to drive under the influence. For Peterson’s family, the pain of losing a loved one in such a violent and preventable manner will linger for a lifetime.
