A Georgia woman convicted of Vehicular Homicide in August was sentenced to 10 years in prison Tuesday for hitting and killing a motorcyclist in 2022, State Attorney Larry Basford announced.
Tammi Michelle Hornsby, 50, of Senoia, Ga., was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Shonna Young Gay after the judge heard from family members of the victim and the defendant. Gay also revoked Hornsby’s driver’s license for life and gave her 5 years’ probation following prison. The wreck occurred late Saturday night, April 30, 2022 during Thunder Beach.
“My son’s death has left a hole in my heart that can never be filled,” the victim’s mother said in a statement Circuit Chief Prosecutor Mark Graham read at sentencing. “The memory of that night we lost him is burned into my mind forever. No parent should have to experience this.”
She said her life, and her family’s will never be the same. “This is a life sentence for us.”
At trial in August, Graham and Prosecutor Jack Lyons called witnesses and presented evidence, including video surveillance from nearby businesses, proving Hornsby had been drinking and was driving about 29 mph over the 35 mph speed limit when she hit the motorcyclist in the westbound lane of Thomas Drive.
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The victim was attempting to turn left from Silver Sands Road when he was struck, causing the vehicles to erupt in flames.
Graham said the combination of Hornsby’s speed and delayed reactions from drinking led to the crash, which he said was a tragedy for all involved. Hornsby, 50, “really had no substantive criminal record, but she came down here on bike week, and she was drinking … and speeding and her decision making was clearly flawed,” Graham said.
Graham noted crash data showed the defendant did not hit the brakes until .8 seconds before impact.
“But for her slowed reaction due to some of the alcohol she drank and if she had been driving the speed limit, she and the victim never would’ve collided,” Graham said.
Basford thanked the Florida Highway Patrol for its work on the case.
For more information, contact Mike Cazalas at mike.cazalas@sa14.fl.gov, or call 850-381-7454.