North Florida, GA : Driver sentenced to 10 years' prison for fatal crash on April, Tuesday 11th 2017

A Moultrie woman who pleaded guilty in a 2015 crash that sent another car tumbling, killing an elderly passenger, was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison.

In addition to the prison term, Colquitt County Superior Court Judge Brian McDaniel also ordered Nancy Marie Wells to serve 10 years’ probation following her release. Wells, 27, pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to vehicular homicide with DUI and serious injury by vehicle.

The 2015 Dodge Ram pickup truck Wells was driving on Sept. 13, 2015, struck the 2004 Chrysler Town & Country in which Donnie and Linda Stripling were riding.

Wells, driving south on Highway 133, tried to pass the Striplings. She struck their car as she tried to pull back into the south-bound lane when she saw an oncoming car.

Linda Stripling was ejected from the van and died at the scene about four miles north of Berlin.

Prosecutors said that during the evening of Sept. 12, 2015, Wells and her boyfriend purchased 18 alcoholic beverages at Buffalo Wild Wings in Valdosta. More than four hours after the crash Wells blood alcohol content registered .183 — more than double the legal limit of .08.

The delay was due to Wells initially agreeing to give a blood sample, but then changing her mind once at the hospital. That forced the Georgia State Patrol officer working the wreck to get a warrant to obtain a blood sample.

During the intervening time Wells’ body was able to process some of the alcohol, so the amount detected in the blood sample would have been lower than at the time of the accident.

Assistant District Attorney David Miller asked the court not only for punishment and justice, “but it should also send a loud message to the community as a deterrent to people drinking and driving.”

The couple’s mangled car is the one that can be seen parked at the intersection of Veterans Parkway North and Highway 37, Miller said.

Donnie Stripling required two surgeries and months of physical therapy in efforts to recover from his injuries.

McDaniel also ordered Wells to perform 160 hours of community service work, alcohol and drug treatment, to avoid alcohol use, and that any car she drives after release have an alcohol sensor interlock device designed to prevent the car from cranking if she had too much to drink.

In other sentences McDaniel imposed on Friday.

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Driver sentenced to 10 years' prison for fatal crash