Man convicted of DUI manslaughter in 2010 teen boy hit-and-run

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orange County driver who confessed to leaving two teens in a ditch after hitting them while they walked along the road has been sentenced to decades behind bars Monday.

The surviving victim and his family addressed the man who killed their 15-year-old loved one.

Anthony Rodriguez's mother sat in front of Eric Wydra, fighting through tears to explain the pain he caused.

She showed the court pictures during his sentencing.

"The other one is of all my children. I can't take another picture like that," Jessica Rodriguez said.

In November 2010, Anthony and his brother Miguel were walking to their school bus stop when, troopers say, Wydra hit 15-year-old Anthony and took off.

Anthony died. His older brother had to watch.

"As an older brother, his duty is to always protect his little brother and I didn't protect him. I couldn't," Miguel said.

Three years later, in the ditch where the boys were left, is a memorial. The bear and football are weathered but it's a constant reminder of what that family lost the day Wydra wasn't supposed to be behind the wheel.

Wydra had four previous DUIs and had a suspended license the morning he hit the boys.

A judge sentenced Wydra to 20 years in prison Monday on three charges, including DUI manslaughter and leaving the scene.

"You're only getting 20 years," the victim's father, George Torres, said.

"But we as a family, we're getting life. Life and living in a nightmare."

When Wydra is released from prison, he's been ordered not to ever drive again.

WFTV