CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — Family members of two teenagers killed in a crash in Catawba County fought back tears as they asked for justice in the case.
The driver is accused of traveling at nearly 100 mph when he crashed two years ago north of Claremont.
There were five teenagers in the car when it went off the road and went airborne, killing two tenth graders from Bunker Hill High School.
Prosecutors said the 19-year old driver, Jacob Turner, had been warned several times prior to the crash about his reckless driving.
As Christy Sigmon spoke to the judge, someone stood next to her with a photo of Sigmon's 15-year old son, Alec, one of the victims in the crash.
Feet away sat Turner who is accused of driving more than 40 mph more than the speed limit when he crashed in October of 2014.
"The bad thing is I can't see my son unless I go to the cemetery. So for holidays, birthdays, any special occasion that's where I have to go to see my 15-year-old son," Sigmon said.
Dozens of family members and friends of Turner, now a college student, were also in court Monday.
His attorney handed the judge a stack of letters of support for the 20-year-old, who spoke Monday to the family members of both victims, Sigmon and Justin Turner, who is not related to Jacob.
"I am very sorry for the things I have put you through. I've had a hard time dealing with the consequences of the accident and I'm very sorry for anyone dealing with that,” Turner said.
But prosecutors asked for prison time explaining, that even though alcohol was not involved, several adults had told Turner to drive more responsibly before the crash.
"That's how he got attention. That made him a big man. Why else would he drive that way?” said Lance Sigmon, assistant district attorney.
The judge sentenced Turner to 90 days of jail time after he plead guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Prosecutors had asked for a year of prison time.
Family members of the victims hope other young drivers learn from what happened.
“Holidays will never be the same. Our family pictures will never include him again. No laughter, hugs or ‘I love you.’ Everything just ends," said Dina Snipes, mother of one victim.
The judge also ordered Turner surrender his license for the next two years and do 20 hours of community service at local schools, talking about the dangers of reckless driving.
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