Fatal DUI accident results in six year sentence

By Cecilia Green

Published on April 20, 2006

Richard Allen Lane, 49, was driving with blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit when he crossed the dividing yellow line and became involved in a head-on collision with Joyce Williams. Williams, a 46-year-old mother, was driving with three teenage passengers at the time of the accident. The teenagers were injured and Williams was killed in the crash.

Lane pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter and faced up to 20 years in prison.

The prosecution requested that Lane be given the maximum penalty, but the judge took into consideration Lane's admission of guilt and lack of criminal history when making his decision.

Judge Leon Emanuel sentenced Lane to 14 years in prison with eight of them suspended. Lane will be on probation for four years following his release. In addition, Lane is required to attend counseling for substance abuse and pay a total of $15,000 to the three girls injured in the accident.

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