A St. Louis woman was sentenced to two years of probation after a wreck that killed a Bellefontaine Neighbors police sergeant in 2015.The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports 36-year-old Latonia Waites pleaded guilty to careless and imprudent driving in the death of 53-year-old Sgt. Peggy Vassallo. Waites was originally charged with second-degree involuntary manslaughter.Waites struck Vassallo, a 15-year police veteran, in August 2015. Investigators say Waites was distracted by her cellphone.Police say Vassallo had been involved in a collision and was outside her car summoning an ambulance for the other driver when Waites swerved around stopped vehicles and hit the sergeant.Waites would face a one-year jail sentence if she does not complete her probation.“You can take a life and not suffer the consequences, and that isn’t fair,” said Patty Kaelin, the sister of Vassallo told KMOV. “I was so close to her. The missing of her presence and her friendship was so hard. There’s so many times you want to talk to her.”Kaelin said she hopes others stop and think of her sister before looking at their phone while driving.Missouri is one of the only states without a statewide texting ban. Vassallo left behind a husband, son and grandchildren.
A St. Louis woman was sentenced to two years of probation after a wreck that killed a Bellefontaine Neighbors police sergeant in 2015.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports 36-year-old Latonia Waites pleaded guilty to careless and imprudent driving in the death of 53-year-old Sgt. Peggy Vassallo. Waites was originally charged with second-degree involuntary manslaughter.
Waites struck Vassallo, a 15-year police veteran, in August 2015. Investigators say Waites was distracted by her cellphone.
Police say Vassallo had been involved in a collision and was outside her car summoning an ambulance for the other driver when Waites swerved around stopped vehicles and hit the sergeant.
Waites would face a one-year jail sentence if she does not complete her probation.
“You can take a life and not suffer the consequences, and that isn’t fair,” said Patty Kaelin, the sister of Vassallo told KMOV. “I was so close to her. The missing of her presence and her friendship was so hard. There’s so many times you want to talk to her.”
Kaelin said she hopes others stop and think of her sister before looking at their phone while driving.
Missouri is one of the only states without a statewide texting ban.
Vassallo left behind a husband, son and grandchildren.
