Trucker sentenced in fatal accident

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A semi truck driver is sentenced to prison for causing a fatal accident.

That accident took the life of 25-year-old Ryan Kelly last November in Terre Haute.

The driver, Timothy Clark, admitted he was high on cocaine, fell asleep at the wheel and hit Ryan's stopped car.

Ryan and his wife Jill were married just a year when his life was cut short.

"You thought you had a bright future, a long future and in a blink of an eye, one goodbye kiss and one 'I love you' and you never see that person again," Jill Kelly said.

Clark is now heading to prison for the accident.

Clark has a history of driving under the influence, his licence was even suspended at the time of the accident.

Ryan's mother said she believes Clark is a danger to society.

"I'm just wondering who he's going to kill when he gets out," Marie Buckingham said.

Clark was sentenced to 12 years in prison Monday, as part of a plea agreement.

Ryan's wife said she fully supports the plea agreement but said nothing will ever make her loss any easier.

"I don't think any time is enough," Jill said. "I think ultimately in my mind I would like to see him suffer as he made my husband suffer but you can only go as far as the law will allow."

Clark could serve half that time with good behavior.

Ryan's mother said no prison time will ever be enough.

"In six years he'll be out, he'll get on with his life," Buckingham said. "I'm still not going to have my son back."

Timothy Clark declined to comment to News 10 on his way out of court Monday.

He plead guilty to causing death while operating a motor vehicle under the influence.

A judge ordered Clark to complete drug and alcohol counseling in prison.