A 32-year-old man, Dillon Shifflett, has been handed a 16-year prison sentence for a DUI crash in San Tan Valley that claimed the lives of a father and son, the Pinal County Attorney's Office confirmed. As per an announcement by the Pinal County Attorney's office, Shifflett received the sentence at the Pinal County Superior Court on Monday, with Judge Jason Holmberg presiding over the case.
Shifflett was driving a 2016 GMC Sierra when he collided with a 2009 Volkswagen minivan making a turn; both occupants of the minivan, ages 23 and 65, were killed in the incident which happened last year, as witness statements indicated that Shifflett was traveling "super fast" at speeds around 90mph in a 35mph zone, in addition, a blood test revealed his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.116 and also detected THC, according to the Pinal County Attorney's office.
Charges to which Shifflett pleaded guilty included Manslaughter as a Class Two Dangerous Felony and Manslaughter as a Class Two Non-Dangerous Felony. During the sentencing phase, family members expressed the irreplaceable loss they experienced, "We will never feel whole again," and "I am in disbelief that this is my life and my reality," they shared their anguish with the court as they recounted transitioning from a family of six to merely four.
"This is yet another example of the tragic consequences that occur when choosing to drive impaired," Volkmer stated in the aftermath of the sentencing, offering his thoughts and prayers to the affected family, hoping they can begin the healing process, the father and son remembered for their kind and humorous nature had been on their way to the gym before the tragic event unfolded, as detailed by the Pinal County Attorney's press release.
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