Warrington woman gets 15 years for killing boyfriend and Alabama woman during 2022 crash
A Warrington woman will spend the next 15 years in state prison after pleading no contest to two counts of vehicular homicide for killing her boyfriend and another driver in 2022.
Circuit Judge John Simon sentenced 20-year-old Sara Hudson to 15 years in state prison followed by 15 years of probation for her no contest plea to both homicide counts, according to court records. A Florida Highway Patrol release says Hudson's driver's license was revoked for 20 years.
Her charges stemmed from January 2022 when she was driving her 2007 Pontiac G6 at 85 mph down Sorrento Road, a road with a maximum speed limit of 55 mph. Her boyfriend, Christopher Lee Mills, was in the passenger seat.
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"The sedan driven by Hudson crossed the center line at a high rate of speed, entering the lane where the pickup truck was traveling," an FHP release says. "The (truck) driver attempted to swerve to the right to avoid the collision but was unable."
Hudson crashed into Deborah Winslett, a woman from Brierfield, Alabama. Hudson's boyfriend was pronounced dead at the scene, and Winslett was pronounced dead after being transported to Baptist Hospital.
During the crash, Hudson was also severely injured and at one point was intubated and rushed into emergency surgery.
The Office of the State Attorney had additionally charged Hudson with two counts of driving without a license while causing a death and two counts of possessing a controlled substance without a prescription, but those charges were dropped in accordance with the plea agreement, according to court records.
As part of the agreement, the state also incorporated a cap of 18.5 years, which was the mandatory minimum to which Hudson could be sentenced. However, court records indicate Simon allowed Hudson a downward departure, which allows a judge to sentence a defendant below the minimum requirements.
Records indicate the downward departure was allowed since the "offense was committed in an unsophisticated manner and an isolated incident for which defendant shows remorse," allowing Simon to levy a 15-year sentence rather than 18.5 years.
Hudson was given 441 days of credit for her time served in Escambia County Jail.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Warrington woman gets 15 years for Escambia County double fatal crash
