Man Guilty In Fatal Wheat Ridge Hit & Run Gets 35 Years Behind Bars
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - A man who pleaded guilty in a deadly hit-and-run in Wheat Ridge learned his fate on Tuesday.
Police say Alton Kirkland was drunk when he hit another car and killed 18-year-old Jordan Sprouse last May on Kipling Street. The judge said this was no accident.
On the night of the crash, Kirkland was trying to scare his wife by speeding down Kipling Street, running multiple red lights. The judge said in her eyes it wasn't a matter of if Kirkland would hit someone, but a matter of when. And that's exactly what happened.
Kirkland was drunk and speeding when he ran a red light and slammed into Sprouse's car.
Instead of staying to help, Kirkland fled the scene, leaving his wife and two kids behind.
"One of the things that was really appalling to me was not just the senselessness of the actions that led to this, but the ones that followed," said Jordan's father Jamie Sprouse.
Prior to handing down a sentence, the court heard audio recording of Kirkland's calls from jail. In one, he told his wife he was going to shave and get a haircut, to try and make the judge think that he cared.
"When you hear from his own mouth about how he feels about the case, my son, that speaks for itself," said Jordan's mother Jessie Ackerman.
Nearly a year since she lost Jordan, Ackerman still carries her son's ashes with her. "He was here today…to see what happened to the guy that got him."
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A judge sentenced Kirkland to 35 years behind bars. He pleaded guilty to nine counts, including vehicular homicide, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.
Although relieved they now have some justice, Jordan's parents say it's far from enough. "It won't bring my son back so no time is good enough … I just want my son back," said Sprouse.
Sprouse's parents hope that speaking out about their son's death will encourage lawmakers to take a closer look at DUI penalties here in Colorado. They also want to send a message to everyone that it is not okay to drink and drive.
