Columbia man sentenced to 18 years in prison for 2019 fatal hit-and-run crash

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Columbia man was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Tuesday for his role in a 2019 fatal hit-and-run crash.

Lukas Evans, 22, pleaded guilty to three charges including a count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the death of 37-year-old Jordan Hoyt. Judge Brouck Jacobs sentenced him to ten years for manslaughter, four years for leaving the scene of an accident and four years for armed criminal action.

Prosecutors originally charged Evans with second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident. Evans' plea agreement avoided a trial initially set for April.

"Her death was a tragic loss for her family and the whole community," Assistant Boone County Prosecutor Nicholas Komoroski said. "Eighteen years is a strong sentence and I hope it will deter others and bring safety to the community."

Columbia police said Evans was speeding away from a crash at West Boulevard and Stadium Boulevard on Feb. 16, 2019, when he hit Hoyt head-on.

Evans wasn't immediately accused of any crimes after the crash, but turned himself over to police custody days later once prosecutors charged him with murder.

For nearly an hour and a half during the court hearing, family members and friends of Hoyt read victim impact statements. Her older brother, Jeffry Hoyt, like the others who spoke during the hearing, said he thinks about Jordan's death every day.

"I pass the spot where she died every single day and I get to think about it everyday," Hoyt said. "I think about what you did to me and my family, and yet, I forgive you."

Jacobs said it was the most victim impact testimony he's heard during a court hearing.

Initially, the defense said Evans was going to read a statement of remorse during the hearing. In the end, Evans decided not to read the statement and it was withdrawn from the court.