Amber B. McGill, 31, was sentenced to ten years in prison this week for causing a car wreck that left a young girl injured.
McGill, of Grover, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence with great bodily injury. The crash was both alcohol and drug-related. McGill took responsibility for driving under the influence of alcohol, the prescription drug Xanax and marijuana when she caused the wreck last year.
Before the crash on August 28, 2009, witnesses reported that McGill was speeding and weaving through traffic. Around 8:30 p.m., McGill lost control of her vehicle, a late-model Mercedes, while in the northbound lane of Interstate 85 in Cherokee County. She lost control while attempting to pass two cars in the emergency lane. McGill’s car crossed over the cable barrier and struck a southbound vehicle carrying 14-year-old Taylor Francis, of Cary, NC, and her mother. Additionally, two other cars heading southbound sustained minor damage as a result of the crash.
McGill’s blood alcohol concentration reading was .097. At the time of the crash, she did not have insurance coverage and was driving with a suspended license. McGill’s criminal record includes two past convictions for drug offenses.
Barry Barnette, the 7th Circuit principal deputy solicitor, stated that it was fortunate the crash was not any worse than it was, as McGill’s actions were reckless and could have easily resulted in the loss of several lives.
In addition to her prison sentence, McGill was fined $5,000 and is required to pay restitution in the amount $21,750 for the victims’ medical bills.
Source: GoUpstate.com “NC Woman sentenced in I-85 DUI car crash” 8/10/10
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