A Pensacola woman convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol after the 2019 Mardi Gras parade and causing a fatal turn in a car has been sentenced to prison.
Cherri Lee Baker was sentenced Thursday to thirteen years and seven months in a crime for involuntary manslaughter, DUI causing injury, leaving the scene of a fatal turn of fate and leaving the scene of a turn of fate with injuries, according to state prosecutor Bill Eddins.
On March 2, 2019, Baker left a Mardi Gras parade while driving a Nissan Rogue east on Cervantes Street, attempted to join an outside lane on Cervantes Street at the same time as a Honda Accord and hit the car.
Brian Nielson, 35, of Pensacola, driving the Accord and his wife, Neilimar Sanchez-Neilson, 31, sitting in the passenger seat.
The turn of destination rotated the Accord at the intersection of Cervantes Street and 19th Avenue North and in the opposite lane. A Dodge Dakota, who didn’t have time to react, hit the Accord.
Sanchez-Neilson died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident, and her husband was injured but survived. Dodge Dakota’s driving force was also injured in the accident.
Baker fled the scene and left his car nearby, however, a witness followed him from the scene of the turn of fate and alerted police to his location.
“Analysis of a blood pattern taken after the twist of fate revealed a blood alcohol point of 0. 184, more than double the legal limit,” Eddins wrote.
Baker was convicted of DUI in 2013.
Colin Warren-Hicks can be reached colinwarrenhicks@pnj. com or 850-435-8680.