HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A 31-year-old Kansas woman was sentenced to just over 5 years in prison for a crash that killed one person and injured six others.
Viola Rhodes, 31, was sentenced Tuesday after pleading guilty in May to one count of involuntary manslaughter while intoxicated and six counts of aggravated battery. Rhodes was driving in December 2020 when her car went off a road and overturned, killing 44-year-old Brian Bookout.
In exchange for her plea in May, prosecutors dropped a second-degree murder charge. Two other people in the car were hospitalized and four others were treated for injuries at the scene.
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HUTCHINSON— A Kansas woman has accepted a plea deal in a crash that killed one person and injured six others.
Viola Rhodes, 31, Hutchinson, pleaded guilty Wednesday to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence and six counts of aggravated battery. In exchange, prosecutors agreed not to charge her with reckless second-degree murder.
Rhodes was arrested on potential charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation of alcoholic beverage, aggravated battery; DUI, and involuntary homicide after an accident December 5, 2020.
Rhodes was driving a van on Yoder Road that night when the vehicle overturned ejecting 44-year-old Brian Biookout who was killed. Two passengers were taken to Hutchinson Regional Health Center and four others were treated by EMS at the scene.