As reported by the Asheville Citizen-Times, a woman that pleaded guilty to felony death by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, will be spending up to two years in prison.
J.K., 26, handcuffed and trying not to cry as she was led from the Buncombe County Superior courtroom, spoke to the grieving parents of the woman she killed, "I'm so sorry. It is something I will never do again."
The female victim, M.L.K., 29, died when J.K. drove in the wrong direction on Interstate 240 and struck her head-on.
H.K., M.L.K's father, said, "She was the most beautiful thing that ever walked this earth. My daughter will never know the joy of motherhood. We will never know the joy of being grandparents. Every day I wonder what she was thinking the last few moments of her life."
J.K. pleaded guilty to three criminal charges in court: felony death by vehicle, driving while impaired and reckless driving to endanger. She was sentenced to 20 to 24 months in state prison.
The judge in the case, Judge James Downs, also made the recommendation that J.K. participate in a work-release program.
Under the state's guidelines J.K. faced a maximum sentence of 111 months in prison.
On October 2 Asheville resident, M.L.K., was driving home at approximately 2:30 in the morning when J.K., of Arden, crashed into her.
J.K. was driving west in the eastbound lane.
Assistant District Attorney Chris Hess stated that J.K. was returning from spending her evening at more than one downtown club, drinking. Her blood alcohol content proved to be over three times the legal limit - it was 0.26 percent.
Hess stated that as "Miss M.L.K. was slowing down, she saw the vehicle coming, (and) this was no accident. It was a conscious decision to drink and drive."
Hess further stated that M.L.K. was completely sober - the victim had spent her evening singing Karaoke in Maggie Valley - and died instantly. J.K. sustained serious injuries in the crash.
Speaking of M.L.K., close friend, H.W., said, "She was the kindest, most loving girl I ever met. You could always depend on (M.L.K.). She loved kids. She never met any strangers, only friends."
J.K., in attesting to the victim's work as a devout Christian, said, "She changed my life. (M.L.K.) was faith personified. Thank you (M.L.K.) for showing us how to live for Christ."
J.K.'s father, W.K., said that his daughter spent almost three weeks in the trauma unit at Mission Hospital, remained in a wheelchair for months afterwards, and has now turned to God for solace.
W.K. said, "This has brought her closer to God. Her outlook has changed. She has always been a caring person, but not the extent she is now."
He then looked over to M.L.K.'s family in the courtroom and said, "I can't imagine what the (K.) family has gone through."
Contact a DUI attorney if you are facing a DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI and the charges that are sometimes coupled with DUI. Jail time, fines and license suspension may be avoidable with the proper representation.