After Courtney Spears collided with a golf cart in March 2020, injuring 7 people, a Bay County judge sentenced her to more than 20 years in prison.
Spears pleaded not guilty to six counts of DUI
WJHG reported that the collision occurred along Front Beach Road and Lakeview Circle in the 16400 block, according to the Panama City Beach Police Department.
At the time of the collision, police reported that Spears, the driver of a truck, did not give way to the golf cart as it turned left from Lakeview Circle into Front Beach Road.
The golf cart’s passengers were thrown out and hurt. According to authorities, Spears was unharmed in the collision.
Spears pleaded not guilty to six counts of DUI causing serious bodily harm and one count of enhanced DUI on Thursday.
Victims and their relatives testified in court
WDRB reported that Spears had a BAC of about 0.25 when she backed her pickup into the path of the rental golf cart, according to state prosecutor Barbara Beasley. According to court officials, that exceeds the legal limit by more than three times.
On Thursday, a number of the victims and their relatives testified in court regarding the tragedy. Several of the victims, according to the state, are currently undergoing medical operations as a result of their collision injuries.
For each of the six crimes, Beasley requested the maximum punishment, which included a 5-year term.
Judge Shonna Gay handed down the worst punishment against Spears after hearing the evidence of the witnesses. The five-year sentences for Spears will be served concurrently, reports from WJHG.