Laura Gallagher, 21, agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors, who will recommend that she is sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the death of 54-year-old Carl Wilkins.
Laura Gallagher. EWING -- A former Rider University student pleaded guilty today to fleeing the scene of an accident that led to a pedestrian’s death in Ewing two years ago.
Laura Gallagher, 21, of Mount Olive, agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors that calls for her to be sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the crash that killed 54-year-old Carl Wilkins, of Trenton.
Gallagher said in court today that she was on her way home from a friend’s house on Oct. 28, 2011 when she hit Wilkins with her Jeep Grand Cherokee on Parkside Avenue.
“I saw him coming across the road, struck him and slammed on the brakes,” Gallagher said.
Assistant Prosecutor Skylar Weissman asked her what she did next.
“I panicked,” Gallagher said. “I left the scene.”
Wilkins was then hit by a second vehicle -- allegedly a BMW driven by Marie Jean of Ewing. Wilkins was declared dead at the scene by medical personnel.
The criminal case for Jean, who also allegedly fled the scene of the accident, is ongoing.
Gallagher was charged with death by auto and leaving the scene of the accident, but as part of the plea deal the death by auto charge will be dropped, Weissman said.
“They’re difficult cases. There are no winners,” Weissman said. “This is just an unfortunate situation.”
Wilkins' family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the crash against Gallagher and Jean.
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