MONTGOMERY COUNTY — A woman has learned her punishment for a crash that killed a 35-year-old man.
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News Center 7 previously reported that the family of Colby Ross died as deputies chased Melissa Hutchins down SR-49 toward West Third Street/US-35.
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A detective used stop sticks, but Hutchins did not stop and ran through a red light.
She then hit Ross’ convertible, forcing him into a pickup truck and causing him to be thrown from his car. He died from his injuries.
Ross’ family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, claiming the chase was immoral and illegal.
“I felt the love from our family and friends and Colby, Colby’s always with me,” Chenea Ross, Colby’s wife, said.
She was pleased that Hutchins admitted guilt and asked for forgiveness in court. She will spend at least 15 years behind bars at a state prison.
Chenea extended that forgiveness.
“I felt like if I didn’t, it would just be me drinking poison and expecting her to be hurt,” she said.
“God will fix her, hopefully, and hopefully it will fix our family too. But you can’t erase the hurt and the tears that our whole family shares on a regular basis,” Bob “Skip” Ross, Colby’s father, said.
Hutchins’ sentencing is only the first step for them.
“She held herself accountable, and she was guilty. I’m expecting the same from the sheriff’s department,” Chenea said.
“It’s a big step, it’s a big step moving forward. We hope that we have the right people around us that will help guide us to get the truth about what should be,” Skip said.
The sheriff’s office has released cruiser camera video of the chase and called Colby’s death a tragedy.
They could not comment further due to potential legal action.
We will continue to follow this story.
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