New's Story from nola.com. Pretty unbelievable.
However you look at it, this was a tragic situation. I feel so sorry for the family.
Some conflicting information about the sentencing:
From Nola.com:
However, after interviewing with program administrators from the Louisiana State Police, Vidrine was deemed inappropriate for the speaking program because the collision did not occur while he was texting or making a phone call while driving.
"He had a distraction, but not the kind of distraction they were looking for," Hand said. "He wasn't texting or talking on the phone. He had a distraction, but he wasn't able to articulate what that was."
From WSBTV.com:
From Nola.com:
From WSBTV.com:
Quote:
"We believe the victims were just as much at fault as my client was," Hand (the defense attorney) said. "They were driving in the middle of the street in a 55 mph zone. I know the law says they can, but my client's original perception was that they were riding on the shoulder, like they probably should have been. It took him by surprise when they weren't."However you look at it, this was a tragic situation. I feel so sorry for the family.
Some conflicting information about the sentencing:
From Nola.com:
Quote:
Vidrine also was considered for a five-year sentence in which he would serve three years and remain on probation for the final two years of a suspended sentence, Hand said. He would have had to take part in a program those final two years speaking to high school students about the dangers of distracted driving, and he was "fully willing to participate in that program," Hand said. However, after interviewing with program administrators from the Louisiana State Police, Vidrine was deemed inappropriate for the speaking program because the collision did not occur while he was texting or making a phone call while driving.
"He had a distraction, but not the kind of distraction they were looking for," Hand said. "He wasn't texting or talking on the phone. He had a distraction, but he wasn't able to articulate what that was."
From WSBTV.com:
Quote:
Guinn says Vidrine, 34, was offered a three-year prison sentence, followed by two years of educating others about the dangers of distracted driving. Vidrine chose prison, Guinn saidFrom Nola.com:
Quote:
"He understood the consequences," Hand said. "He understands a man lost his life and another is injured for life, and there was a price to be paid for that. He took full responsibility for his actions."From WSBTV.com:
Quote:
Widow Kimberly Guinn told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that making her statement in the New Orleans courtroom was difficult enough, but made harder because Vidrine "showed no remorse. None."