Columbia Man sentenced for 2018 fatal crash
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
William Lalka was sentenced last Friday to a suspended sentence after an Oct. 2018 fatal wreck on Stadium Boulevard near Blackfoot Road.
As ABC 17 News reported in Oct. 2018, 26-year-old Andrew Helmreich died after the the car went off the street.
According to court records, Lalka made a plea for two of the five counts he was originally charged with.
Lalka pleaded guilty to DWI - Death Of Another and Leaving Scene Of Accident - Accident Resulting In Death.
Lalka was given a 10 year sentence for the first plea and five years to run concurrently with the second plea.
However, according to court records, Lalka will be placed on probation for 5 years under supervision of Missouri Probation and Parole.
Lalka will also have to adhere to the following terms of his probation: consume intoxicants, Submit to chem test on request LEO, not be on premises any business who's primary purpose is the sale of alcohol. Complete SATOP and RCR, Serve 28 days BCJ Shock time as set forth in written order to be signed, and successfully complte TC. Defendant not to be discharged from probation until all court costs, fees are paid in full.
In the 2018 ABC 17 News report, Officer Mark Hoehne wrote in court documents that Lalka had a “strong odor of intoxicants coming from his breath.” Hoehne also said his speech was thick and slurred and his eyes were watery and bloodshot.
Three hours after the crash, Lalka provided a breath sample, which showed his blood alcohol content to be .107 percent.
