RICHMOND, Ind. — A truck driver whose semitrailer crashed into a car along an eastern Indiana highway construction zone in 2020, killing four young siblings, will serve 45 years in prison for the crime.
Corey Robert Withrow pleaded guilty Wednesday. The judge announced his sentence late Wednesday afternoon.
The state wanted the maximum sentence of 60 years, while Withrow's defense team asked for 20 years.
Withrow admitted to driving under the influence of meth when he plowed into the back of the family's car, killing the children in a crash along Interstate 70.
(NOTE: The above video is from a previous report on Withrow planning to plead guilty.)
Withrow faced four charges of causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, four charges of reckless homicide and a charge of causing catastrophic injury when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.
The crash on July 9, 2020, killed four siblings ages 6 to 15 and severely injured their father, Aaron Bruce of Kansas City, Missouri, who was driving the car. Anesa Noel Acosta, 15, rode in the passenger front seat. Three boys died in the back seat: Quintin Michael McGowan, 13, Brekkin Riley Bruce, 8, and Trentin Beau Bruce, 6.
"In the 32 years of law enforcement in my professional career, I can't say that I've seen a traffic crash quite as horrific as this,” said Wayne County Sheriff Randy Retter at the time.
Aaron Bruce suffered burns on over 65% of his body. He's had more than 75 surgeries.
Investigators say Withrow was driving erratically before the crash and at high speed through the work zone. But traffic was moving freely in the work zone. Backed up or stopped traffic was ruled out as a contributing factor to the crash.
A preliminary toxicology test showed Withrow had multiple drugs in his system. Withrow had multiple drug convictions in his home county in Ohio the previous four years before the crash. The convictions included heroin possession.