There was a packed Fond du Lac County courtroom for the sentencing Thursday of 27-year-old Clinton Lovelace. The Hilbert man crossed the center line on Highway 151 and struck a group of motorcyclists in May 2012, killing two and injuring seven.
Eric Van Dam lost his leg when Lovelace struck the group. Van Dam was hoping Lovelace would 12 years in prison instead of the 8 he did get. “I would have been thrilled with 12,” he said. “I understand the judge’s predicament.”
Lovelace took oxycodone the day of the accident, but not enough to show impairment in blood tests. Judge Gary Sharpe said given that lack of evidence they have to assume he fell asleep at the wheel or lost consciousness. Lovelace will also have 15 years extended supervision and 7 years probation.
District Attorney Eric Toney was asking for 20 years, but said they are more concerned for the victims and their families. “One thing I’d like everybody to do is remember to keep the victims, their friends and family in your thoughts and prayers,” he said. “It doesn’t end for them today.”
Van Dam said he’s blessed because he can’t remember the crash. “I’ve seen tons of photographs, and at the one year anniversary we went up to the accident scene. I have no memory of it. It’s a blessing for me.”
KFIZ