Columbia woman sentenced to prison after guilty plea in deadly motorcycle crash
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia woman pleaded guilty on Friday for charges in the 2021 death of a Columbia motorcyclist.
Susan Hanel, 74, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of misdemeanor DWI and felony leaving the scene of a crash Friday in the Boone County Courthouse.
She had originally been charged with four felonies including involuntary manslaughter, armed criminal action and causing death by driving while intoxicated.
Judge Josh Devine sentenced her to six months in jail for the misdemeanor DWI and seven years in prison for the felony of leaving the scene.
Hanel was charged in the 2021 death of Skylar Maddox after she turned in front of his motorcycle at Providence and Sexton roads, causing him to crash into her car.
Hanel left the scene, and a witness told police that Hanel did not have on any headlights, according to a probable cause statement. During a field sobriety test, police reported Hanel couldn't keep her head up, that she was falling over and that she showed other signs of impairment.
Maddox's mother, Jenny Maddox, was critical of the plea deal in court.
"The judicial system has exchanged Skylar's life for seven-and-a-half years, not all of which will be served," she said. "I don't hardly consider that justice. There is no justice."
Maddox was working at Gilbane Motorsports when he died, and owner Matt Gilbane said he was surprised to hear about the reduced sentence.
"I feel like a DWI resulting in death should be a little harsher punishment than just a misdemeanor," Gilbane said. "A life was taken at the hands of somebody else."
Gilbane said drivers need to pay more attention to motorcyclists on the road.
"Columbia's had a lot of motorcycle accidents, and it's not always the motorcyclists's fault," Gilbane said.
Jenny Maddox went on to criticize Hanel in court Friday, calling her a "waste of oxygen" and saying she hopes she suffers like she made Maddox suffer.
"Susan, your choices have left everyone who loved Skylar with broken hearts," she said. "And broken hearts never go back together."
