Culminating a high-profile DUI in Broward County, Florida, a 20 year-old woman killed two other young woman after driving the wrong way on the Sawgrass Expressway was sentenced by a Broward Circuit Court judge yesterday.
The woman, who had remained in custody due to her inability to post her enormous bond, pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI manslaughter for the deaths of two young woman, who were killed after being struck by the defendant’s car, who was driving the wrong way on the Sawgrass Expressway with a blood-alcohol level that was twice the legal limit.
The judge sentenced the defendant to twenty-four years in Florida state prison, to be followed by 6 years of probation. The judge also suspended the defendant’s driver’s license permanently.
If convicted at trial, the defendant had faced a maximum of 30 years in prison. The defendant entered an open plea of guilty several months ago and was sentenced after each side, the state and defense, presented their witnesses and arguments as to what they believed was an appropriate sentence.
An open plea to the court means that there was no negotiated plea between the state and the defense.
This defendant gained some notoriety as it was reported that prior to the crash, she had tweeted “2 drunk 2 care.”
Eric Matheny is a Miami DUI attorney and Broward DUI attorney representing clients charged with DUI, DUI with serious bodily injury, and DUI manslaughter.