Published: November 09, 2009 11:03 pm      

Woman gets jail in fatal crash

EBENSBURG — A young Cresson woman will spend time behind bars and will serve additional probation time for the role she played in the death of her two young cousins.

Beverly Hughes, 20, was sentenced Monday to 12 to 24 months in the Cambria County Prison to be followed by 12 months probation for her actions while behind the wheel in September 2007.

Hughes was traveling 78 mph in a 45-mph zone on the Munster-Loretto Road in Munster Township when her vehicle struck railroad tracks and became airborne, traveling 83 feet before it struck a tree.

Killed were passengers Sydnie Estep, 10, and Tyler Montgomery, 13, both pupils at the Penn Cambria Middle School.

Hughes was 18 at the time and had obtained her driver’s license just two months before the crash.

Family members of the children told Cambria County Judge David Tulowitzki the deaths have had a profound impact on them.

“We trusted Bev with our children,” Leo Murray, an uncle, read from a statement.

“Hughes continues to live and celebrate life,” he said, adding there is no celebration in the homes of the victims.

“We stand at the grave site and weep,” he said.

Sydnie’s father, Allen Estep, said he has never stopped watching for his “little girl to come home.”

Tyler’s mother, Leah Montgomery, said despite appearances to the opposite, she knows Hughes is remorseful – adding that she has forgiven her.

Without offering specifics, Montgomery asked and Tulowitzki agreed to order a psychological evaluation for Hughes.

Kenneth Sottile of the public defender’s office did not object to the evaluation, calling it appropriate. He said his client is going through a difficult time and has other issues.

Sottile said Hughes has expressed remorse to him and, while she had not talked to the families of the victims, she was acting on his instructions to leave them alone.

“This is just a tragedy. This is a tragedy all the way around,” Sottile said.

“Beverly never had any intent of harming her niece and nephew. She loved them and that’s why they were together on that day.”

Both children were pronounced dead at the scene.

Hughes received minor injuries from the accident.

Hughes entered a guilty plea in September to one count each of vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter and two counts each of reckless driving and speeding.

The plea deal and the sentence came with prior approval of the victims’ families, said Assistant District Attorney Wayne Langerholc.

“The families wanted to see she spent some time in jail,” he said following the sentencing.