DOUGLAS COUNTY, Neb. —

A man in Douglas County, Nebraska, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his involvement in the February death of 23-year-old Milagros Lopez in Omaha. Miguelangel Bringshimback was found guilty of motor vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident resulting in serious bodily injury or death, in connection with the incident.

The tragedy took place in February when Lopez was found injured at 23rd and Castelar streets, after an altercation in an alley involving Bringshimback and five other individuals. Bringshimback struck Lopez with a vehicle and then callously left the scene, leaving her to die in the middle of a snowstorm.

The victim’s cousin, Ruby Hinojosa, expressed disappointment in the length of Bringshimback’s sentence, stating that it is insufficient compared to the loss suffered by Lopez’s family. Hinojosa shared that she still listens to Lopez’s Snapchats every morning, yearning to hear her laughter once more.

According to prosecutors, Bringshimback had been drinking on the night of the incident. The judge emphasized Bringshimback’s serious alcohol problem and condemned his “completely selfish” act of abandoning Lopez.

As a result of the tragic incident, Lopez’s family is pushing for legislative changes that would lead to harsher sentences for offenders like Bringshimback. They argue that justice has not been adequately served and advocate for longer prison terms in similar cases to prevent other families from enduring similar anguish.

Bringshimback will be eligible for parole in three and a half years and will not be allowed to regain his driver’s license for seven years after his release. The family hopes to use their experience to advocate for changes that will prevent future tragedies like the one they have endured.