Woman sentenced for fatal crash during pursuit

HARRISON TWP. — Kyndra Shackelford was sentenced to 16 years and three months for the aggravated vehicular homicide March 17 that killed Marcus Harper.

Shackelford started crying and the judge suspended the hearing as deputies took her out of the courtroom and several gallery members stood up and walked out.

Shackelford killed Harper and severely injured Loretta Creech when she struck a vehicle while leading police on a high-speed pursuit that sparked a task force to evaluate such chases.

Shackelford had a blood-alcohol level of .24 - three times the legal limit - and illegal and legal drugs in her system.

She was driving a stolen car with a suspended license and broke several traffic laws before going through a red light and smashing into Harper’s car after a pursuit that reached 100 mph.

Prosecutors had asked for the maximum sentence of 23.5 years for the four counts to which she pleaded guilty. Her attorney had asked Judge Dennis Langer to a total sentence of no more than eight years.

She also must pay restitution of $1,590 and faces a lifetime drivers suspension. She was credited with 250 days of jail time credit.