DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines man was sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in a 2024 vehicular homicide that killed one.

On May 24, 2024, authorities responded to reports of a Honda Accord that had crashed into a house in the 3900 block of 12th Street in Des Moines. Myint Lwin, at the time 52-years-old, was the driver of the vehicle.

According to authorities, the evidence indicated Lwin had backed into Parreh Ngar, 47, who had gotten out of the vehicle and then into the house. Lwin had a blood alcohol level of .195, according to police.

On Friday, Lwin admitted to driving drunk and unintentionally killing Ngar in May 2024.

The defendant is ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of the victim and, if the family wishes it, participate in a victim-offender dialogue.

Ngar was a paramedic in Myanmar before he resettled in the United States in 2009. He is survived by a wife and four children. During the sentencing, two of Ngar’s daughters gave statement’s saying their father considered Lwin a friend.

“After everything he had been through – fleeing persecution in Myanmar to escape violence and oppression, leaving his family behind to start a new life in the United States — it was his greatest wish for us to succeed,” Soemeh said. “He came here seeking a better future for himself and his children. He left his family to create one of his own, and he dedicated his life to giving us better opportunities.”

“He had an outgoing personality. He was also funny making those around him laugh and always was smiling,” Poe Meh said. “My dad filled our lives with joy.”

The case was prosecuted by Assistant County Attorney Jaki Livingston with assistance from Chelsey Wilson. The investigation was led by Des Moines Police Officers Bryan Wickett and Brian Kelley.