Click here for updates on this story
PAPILLION, NE (WOWT) — The woman convicted of motor vehicle homicide for a 2017 crash that killed 15-year-old Alexandra Linscott will serve time in prison.
Paige Seaton was sentenced to 40 to 50 years in prison for motor vehicle homicide in Sarpy County Court Thursday. She was sentenced to three years for DUI causing serious bodily injury. The sentences will run concurrently. She will be eligible for parole in 20 years. Seaton pleaded guilty to the charges in April.
Seaton was drunk when she caused the deadly traffic accident on October 4, 2017. The crash killed 15-year-old Alexandra Linscott. Alexandra was a passenger in a car driven by her mother, Elisa Linscontt, 48.
The crash happened on Highway 50 near Riha Road.
Authorities said Seaton’s vehicle was traveling left of the center line as it was northbound on Highway 50 and collided with a southbound car driven by Elisa Linscott. The vehicles hit nearly head-on.
Alexandra died at the scene, Elisa Linscott was critically injured and Paige Seaton was seriously injured.
Seaton cried when she addressed the court Thursday.
“I wish it had been a nightmare and when I woke up it would have been over, but instead it was real a real life nightmare that I will never in my life forget. It was bad decision that led me to drink and get behind the wheel,” Seaton said.
Prosecutors asked for the maximum sentence of 50 years because this was not Seaton’s first alcohol-related case.
“The first time she’s a passenger drinking alcohol and goes into diversion. The second time she’s driving drunk and gets probation. Third time – this happens,” said Ben Perlman with Sarpy County Attorney’s Office.
In crafting her sentence, Judge Stefanie Matrinez said the public must be protected from drunk drivers.
“Because the risk is substantial that you would engage in additional criminal conduct if you were placed on probation and that a lesser sentence would depreciate the seriousness of the offense and promote disrespect for the law,” Judge Stefanie Matrinez said.
Seaton, 22, will be more than 40 years old before she’s eligible for parole.
Please note: This content carries a strict local market embargo. If you share the same market as the contributor of this article, you may not use it on any platform.
