Texas drunk driver’s emotional reaction as she gets 43 years for killing cop
A Texas drunk driver convicted in a fatal crash that killed a police officer while directing traffic broke down and cried as she was sentenced to 43 years in prison.
Lavillia Spry, 43, broke down in tears as she was sentenced Thursday in the death of Harris County Sheriff’s Office sergeant Ramon Gutierrez, 45, in a crash nearly three years ago.
She was drunk when she drove around emergency vehicles and rammed Gutierrez as he stood on a road directing traffic before fleeing the scene.
Tributes poured in for Gutierrez, a father of three, as loved ones described him as a “wonderful man” during victim impact statements read out to Spry before she began her sentence.
Lavillia Spry, 43, seen at her trial, was sentenced this week to 43 years in prison for the fatal hit-and-run by a police officer nearly three years ago
Spry was drunk when she struck and killed Sergeant Ramon Gutierrez, 45, father of three, in horror crash
At the end of her trial, Spry was convicted by a jury after just 15 minutes of deliberation on a charge of intoxication manslaughter.
The accident occurred on the evening of January 24, 2022, when Gutierrez was working off-duty as a motorcycle to escort a heavy load on the roadway. He had reportedly been working extra jobs at the time to pay for his daughter’s upcoming wedding.
Gutierrez was off his motorcycle at the time and standing in a reflective jacket and flashlight as emergency vehicles were stationed nearby.
Spry – who had given birth just a month before the incident – drove around the emergency vehicles and crashed into the sergeant, dragging him a short distance.
Officials said she continued to drive and fled the scene before being stopped and arrested shortly afterwards by an officer who followed her.
Arresting officers said she looked bad and tried to resist arrest as she was taken into custody.
Spry, seen in her mugshot, had given birth just a month before the fatal collision in January 2022 and attempted to flee the scene and resist arrest after attacking Gutierrez.
Gutierrez was working off-duty and escorting a heavy load on the road when Spry drunkenly drove over emergency vehicles, struck him and dragged him across the road.
Gutierrez was airlifted to hospital but succumbed to his injuries. He had served with the HCSO for 13 years and was described by HSCO Sheriff Ed Gonzalez as an “outstanding” officer who provided “exemplary service.”
Gonzalez said Gutierrez was “beloved” by his colleagues, and that the scars of his death will remain on his department “forever.”
Following Spry’s arrest, her bail was revoked and increased by $50,000 after she was found to have violated her bond conditions when her SCRAM tracking device detected alcohol in her system, ABC13 reports.