‘You did this’: Judge sentences Santa Rosa man in drunk driving crash that killed teenager

A Santa Rosa man was sentenced to 16 years in prison for causing murder. high speed collision The incident left a 17-year-old girl dead and another passenger suffering life-changing injuries, including amputation of both legs.

Jaden Pruett-Steed, 22, learned his fate in a packed courtroom in Sonoma County on Tuesday. Family and friends of the victims filled the gallery; many wore T-shirts with Walker’s picture on them and the words “Beautiful Emma Walker gone too soon.”

“She was a masterpiece of pure beauty, inside and out,” Emma’s mother, Lisa Walker, said through tears during emotional testimony in court. family described Emma As a bright and ambitious young woman who graduated from high school early and plans to attend Santa Rosa Junior College.

fatal accident The incident, in which authorities say Pruett-Steed was speeding more than 100 mph on a narrow, unlit road, happened in October 2023 on Montgomery Drive near Spring Lake Regional Park.

The person, whose blood alcohol level was measured as 0.11%, admitted that he used alcohol and marijuana that night.

Emma Walker, who was a passenger in the vehicle, died at the scene when the vehicle left the road, hit a tree, rolled into the stream bed and caught fire. Two other passengers, 19-year-old Christian Pappas and 17-year-old Samuel Hendrix, were also seriously injured.

There was Pruett-Steed claimed there was no contest Last month, a lawsuit was filed on charges of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, causing injury by driving under the influence of alcohol, and child abuse because his two passengers were under the age of 18.

On Tuesday, Pruett-Steed stood silently throughout most of the hearing, occasionally glancing at the crowd or speakers. When he appeared in court, he apologized and said, “I do not forgive myself in any way.”

But Judge Mark Urioste said he took exception to Pruett-Steed’s characterization of last year’s crash as an “accident.”

“You did this,” Urioste told him, moments before the hearing ended and participants exited the courtroom.

Pruett-Steed had picked Walker up from her babysitting job in Oakmont on Oct. 13, 2023, and they were heading to her home.

Authorities said Pruett-Steed was driving a Mazda 3 sedan with passengers named Walker, Pappas and Hendrix as they sped west on Montgomery Drive. Police said the car was on a narrow, wooded road with low lighting and no sidewalks when it approached a curve and went off the road.

Authorities said the vehicle went airborne and hit a large tree branch, then rolled over several times and fell into a nearby stream bed. It then caught fire.

Police said they believe the car went about 75 meters off the road.

Pruett-Steed and Hendrix, who was sitting behind him, got out of the car before two passersby pulled Pappas away.

Police said Walker was pronounced dead at the scene, while Pappas and Hendrix were airlifted to the hospital.

Pappas’ family made a statement GoFundMe fundraising account He said that he was trapped inside the burning vehicle and suffered 3rd and 4th degree burns on his legs.

They said he was being treated at UC Davis Medical Center.

According to a presentation report, doctors amputated both of Pappas’ legs; That report also stated that he suffered broken ribs, a concussion, and internal bleeding that required removal of 10 inches of his lower intestine.

A presentence report is a document prepared for the court before sentencing that provides background information about the defendant, including the defendant’s personal history, criminal record, and the impact of the crime, to help determine an appropriate sentence.

“As my final act of loyalty to the defendant, I will not be submitting a victim impact statement,” Pappas wrote in a statement to authorities.

Hendrix’s injuries included internal bleeding that required the removal of a 30-inch section of his small intestine.

In addition to the charges included in the plea agreement, Pruett-Steed was originally charged with murder as well as multiple drunken driving charges.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 25 for the judge to decide whether there is enough evidence to stand trial. It was canceled due to last month’s plea deal.

In an interview with parole officials on November 5, Pruett-Steed said: “This was just a terrible car accident. Everyone knows what happened.”

He said he was “extremely remorseful” and could only imagine what it must have felt like for Lisa Walker to lose her daughter, according to the presentence report.

Emma Walker’s family shared their heartfelt thoughts at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing, painting a picture of a hopeful young woman. Her mother expressed deep sorrow for the milestones she would never witness, such as her daughter graduating from college, getting married, or starting a family.

Her father, Erin Walker, acknowledged the crowded courtroom and recalled the incident. Hundreds of people attended the candlelight vigil Last year at Old Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa.

This was “the pain of our community,” he said.

Addressing defendant Pruett-Steed, Erin Walker urged him to learn from his actions and seek redemption.

She concluded her statement with a touching tribute: “I love you, Emma Rose Walker.”

You can reach Staff Writer Colin Atagi at [email protected]. @colin_atagi on Twitter