The mother of a Grant County teen killed in a drunken driving accident asked the boy who caused the crash to close his eyes Tuesday and return to that moment.
“Put yourself behind the wheel of the truck that night,” She said to Brennon Osborne during his sentencing in Grant County Common Pleas Court. “You pushed her car a quarter of a mile down the road. You killed her upon impact. Can you see the sheer look of terror in her eyes?”
Osborne sat with his eyes downcast as he listened to the impassioned words.
“Did she suffer?” She continued. “Was she scared? For minutes after, was she still alive? Did she call for help? Do you even care?”
Her mother was among three loved ones of Rachel Tompson, 17, who spoke during Osborne’s emotional sentencing and urged that he get the maximum possible prison sentence.
Osborne, 17, of Jonesville pleaded guilty in March to aggravated vehicular homicide, a second-degree felony, and operating a vehicle while under the influence, a first-degree misdemeanor.
Judge Christine Croce, noting Osborne’s remorse and how he accepted responsibility for his actions, sentenced him to seven years in prison. She noted this time will be mandatory. Osborne faced up to eight years.
Prosecutors say Osborne was driving his pickup truck south on HWY 127 S at full speed around a curve July 29 when he made a left turn into the middle of the road. His truck went into oncoming traffic, slamming into Tompsons Kia Optima.