TAYLOR, Texas — A Central Texas man has been sentenced to 40 years behind bars in the death of a married couple over two years ago.
A Williamson County jury found Taylor resident John Crayton Jr., 42, guilty of intoxication manslaughter on Nov. 14.
Witnesses saw Crayton speeding in a Dodge Ram at around 6 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2022, along FM 973 in Taylor, when he swerved into opposing traffic.
Observers said Crayton drove along the shoulder of the road, ignored a red light and continued along Carlos Parker Boulevard, heading southwest. He then crashed into a Toyota Camry with two people inside.
Both the driver and passenger of the Toyota died at the scene. They were later identified as 38-year-old handyman Christopher "Ali" Vassof and his wife, 39-year-old Leonora Soriano, who worked as a chef helping nearby schools.
The jury said the Elgin couple was returning from a birthday party for Soriano's mother when their vehicle was struck by Crayton.
Emergency responders found Crayton's blood alcohol content to be over two times the legal limit, at 0.175.
Now, Crayton will spend 40 years in prison after serving 10 years for previous crimes. His past offenses include aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, assault family violence, evading arrest and public intoxication.
"The senseless loss of life caused by Crayton's reckless actions is a tragedy that could have been prevented," Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick said.
Dick said he hopes the sentencing "provides some measure of justice" to the family and friends of both victims.
