NORWICH – At the time of an accident which claimed the life of a Gilbertsville-Mt. Upton High School student and amputated the leg of another, the 17-year-old who was driving on a learner’s permit said he was so intoxicated he couldn’t recall the moment of collision.
Trebor E. Hoxie, now 18, pleaded guilty in court Monday to aggravated vehicular homicide before Otsego County Court Judge Brian D. Burns and was sentenced to 3 to 9 years in state prison as part of a plea arrangement with prosecutors.
Hoxie admitted he was the driver of a van in an April 18, 2009 accident in the Town of Bainbrige that killed 18-year-old Ashley Crisell and seriously injured three other teenage passengers. The 5:30 a.m. Saturday accident occurred after the youths had spent the night out partying.
The New York State Police reported that Crisell suffered major head trauma and was pronounced dead at Wilson Regional Medical Center in Johnson City following the accident.
Police released the injuries and names of the three other teen passengers involved in the incident.
• Kathryn McLaughlin, 17, of Mount Upton, suffered a skull fracture, broken pelvis, and foot amputation.
• Darren Houck, 18, of Norwich, suffered multiple injuries and a punctured lung.
• Kathryn Card, 17, of Morris, suffered a broken right shoulder and a cut to her left upper thigh.
• Hoxie received the least of the group’s injuries and was treated at Lourdes Hospital for minor abrasions and complaints of pain before being taken into custody by troopers.
Emergency crews were called to the scene at around 5:55 a.m. that morning along state Route 206. Hoxie said he was driving the green 2001 Dodge Caravan. Troopers reported that the vehicle veered off the right side of the road, struck a guide rail and overturned several times before coming to a rest on its wheels, still in the roadway.
Troopers also said none of the teens were wearing seat belts and all of the occupants were ejected from the vehicle as it rolled down the road.
In court yesterday, District Attorney Joseph McBride said state police accident reconstruction experts reported they found no evidence of braking at the scene and believed Hoxie may have fallen asleep at the wheel. McBride said the posted speed limit in the area was 55 miles per hour and police estimated the speed of the van at between 57 and 63 miles per hour when it struck the guardrail. The DA also told the court that lab tests showed Hoxie’s blood alcohol level was somewhere between .14 and .24 at the time of the accident.
Judge Burns took more than ten minutes to review Hoxie’s rights in court before accepting the plea.
“I was at a party and I got drunk I guess, and when I left I was driving, I guess,” Hoxie told the judge.
Hoxie’s Public Defender Alan Gordon clarified that his client could not remember the accident, but that he recalled getting behind the wheel as the teens left a party. Hoxie said he had not slept for about 20 hours before the incident and had 9 to 11 drinks over a two to three hour period before driving the van.
Ashley’s mother, Sharon Crisell, spoke at the sentencing.
“I just hope you know what you took from us was very precious and we miss her very much,” said an emotional Sharon, often pausing to gasp and wipe tears from her eyes.
“I really want to be mean to you, but I just want justice, I want forgiveness,” she said.
McBride said Hoxie was no stranger to local law enforcement, saying, “his conduct was becoming more reckless, accumulating to the incident we’re here for today.”
Hoxie offered these words to the 13 friends and relatives of the victims gathered behind him: “I can’t pretend I know the pain they’re going through, but I’m sorry for it. There’s nothing else I can say other than that I’m sorry.”
Judge Burns told Hoxie he believed the teen had not shown a level of remorse equal to his crime. “You still don’t understand the magnitude of your actions,” he said.
The district attorney and probation department also made similar remarks critical of Hoxie’s attitude toward the incident, both saying he lacked appropriate levels of remorse.
“I don’t know how to find justice in this case. I don’t know how to balance the loss of a child,” said Burns. “Nothing I do today can achieve justice for the family of that young lady who must live every day reminded of their loss while you, Mr. Hoxie, can go to prison, serve your time and move on. You act like this is - ‘something in the past, let’s move on.’”
Burns said sending Hoxie to prison was the response of a civilized justice system.
“You’ll be surrounded by adults who care as little for you and your rights as you did for those in your vehicle,” he said.