Man convicted in I-45 drunk driving death of mother

A drunk driver who killed a young mother stranded on the side of a highway was convicted for manslaughter by a Dallas County jury on Thursday.

Eustorgio Gomez Gutierrez could get as little as probation or up to 20 years in prison for killing 19-year-old Priscilla Alanis almost two years ago.

It took about three and a half hours for the jury to return a guilty verdict -- convicting Gutierrez of manslaughter. It's what the family was hoping for but they'll still go home worried the defendant will go free.

The defense did not call any witnesses in the guilt or innocence phase of the case.

The trial started Thursday morning with closing arguments. Once the guilty verdict was read the trial launched right into the punishment phase where people heard emotional testimony on both sides about how the crash on Sept. 21, 2014 has impacted their lives.

Alanis's mother cried as she told the jury the man who took her daughter should not be allowed to go home to his family.

Gutierrez tearfully testified in the punishment phase saying he was sorry for what happened. 

“My client has never disputed that he was drinking or those factors, but legally from an attorney's perspective, I didn't believe it rise to the level of reckless conduct,” said David Pire, defense attorney.

Alanis, mother to a one-year-old son, was killed when Gutierrez rammed into the back of her PT Cruiser pulled over off of I-45 after overheating.