Driver gets prison in Bullhead City death of bicyclist

Kingman, Ariz. — A drunken driver whose vehicle struck and killed a popular high school teacher in Bullhead City, Ariz., last fall was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison.

Gino Gagliardi, 54, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the death of Larissa Jean Castilleja.

Castilleja, 43, was on a 30-mile training ride before class at Mohave High School when her bicycle was struck by the van Gagliardi was driving at 4:12 a.m. Sept. 9.

Gagliardi was driving home from Laughlin where he played piano in a bar at one of the casinos along the Colorado River. Analysis of casino surveillance tapes revealed that Gagliardi drank at least seven beers, seven shots of hard alcohol and two other drinks between the end of his piano shift and his drive home.

Gagliardi also was convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol and attempted leaving the scene of an accident involving death. He also agreed to pay more than $16,000 in restitution.

Mohave County Superior Court Judge Steve Conn imposed sentence in Kingman.