The driver of a tow truck that ran a red light, struck a pickup and killed two King George County residents in 2007 will serve more than two years in jail.
Alvin R. Thompson was sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with the Culpeper County wreck, but Circuit Judge Jack Berry suspended all but 27 months.
Thompson had been convicted of two counts of manslaughter and one count of wounding in the commission of a felony.
The collision occurred about 2 p.m. Sept. 1, 2007, at an intersection on U.S. 29 at Brandy Station. Thompson was driving a 2006 commercial tow truck pulling an International Harvester box truck when he struck a 2003 GMC pickup driven by Joshua Burke.
Witnesses testified that Burke's vehicle was turning left across U.S. 29 from Alanthus Road when it was hit. It was the second vehicle to exit Alanthus Road and had a green turn signal.
Both Burke and his wife, Ashley, were killed in the crash and a third person in the vehicle, John Lizotte, was thrown from the truck and seriously injured.
Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Close argued for more jail time for Thompson, saying it would "serve as a wake-up call for the importance of emphasizing and enforcing safety on our public highways."
Thompson will be placed on supervised probation for two years after his release, and Berry mandated a five-year period requiring good behavior.
Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com