Leslie Gehret was sentenced to over 23 years in prison on Monday after she drunkenly killed an incoming UCF freshman and his father on their way to orientation last year.
The 40-year-old woman entered a plea on Monday for two counts of DUI manslaughter, according to State Attorney Andrew Bain. She was found guilty and sentenced to 280 months in prison, followed by 12 months of probation. While on probation, Gehret must attend DUI counterattack school and complete 50 hours of community service. Additionally, she’s facing the permanent suspension of her driver’s license, a 10-day vehicle impound or immobilization, and will need to pay the cost of prosecution and court costs.
The victims’ family also have the right to restitution.
The judge also found her guilty of two counts of vehicular homicide and two counts of driving with a suspended license with death or serious injury. This sentence will run concurrently with the 280 months from the DUI manslaughter.
The incident happened back in July 2023.
Gehret was headed west on Lake Underhill Road approaching Rouse Road when she ran a red light and hit a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Inside that car were 50-year-old Shane Lloyd and 19-year-old Jakob Lloyd, who were on their way to the University of Central Florida for orientation from their home in Colorado. He wanted to be a lawyer, his family previously told FOX 35.
The Lloyds’ car veered off the road and flipped over several times. Both Shane and Jakob Lloyd were killed in the crash.
“Crashes happen all the time. But then to think that the person who did it made the choice to drive intoxicated,” Sydney Lloyd, Jakob’s mother, told FOX 35. “She knew she shouldn’t have been driving after she’d been drinking. Her license was suspended. She shouldn’t have been driving in the first place.”
Deputies determined that Gehret was driving at 87-94 mph at the moment of impact. While examining her at the hospital, her blood alcohol limit exceeded the legal limit five hours after the crash.
At the time of the crash, deputies discovered Gehret was already serving probation stemming from a previous DUI. This incident marked her third. Gehret was also driving with a suspended license at the time of the crash, officials said.
“I think it’s all still so surreal. And I keep thinking I’m going to wake up from this, and I don’t,” Sydney Lloyd said.
Shane Lloyd’s sister Shannon Brown told FOX 35 in the aftermath of the crash that she wanted justice for her family, and shared a message about Gehret as well.
“She’ll be forgiven and her family will be in our prayers too, because like I said it’s not just our family that’s hurting, her family’s gonna hurt too,” Brown said.
The University of Central Florida will honor Jakob at its Eternal Knights Memorial Service.
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Source: Fox35orlando
