Kayla Mendoza, the Florida woman who sent an infamous string of tweets before causing fatal car crash back in 2013, has been sentenced to 24 years in prison.
According to police, Mendoza went out for margaritas after work and at approximately 1:45 am, the then 20-year-old drove onto the Sawgrass Expressway in Broward County – driving the wrong way. Soon after, she slammed head-on into another car, killing both people inside.
The sad story was highlighted by an ominous tweet sent less than three hours before the crash:
Mendoza pleaded guilty to two counts of DUI manslaughter earlier this year. She actually faced up to 30 years in jail, but was only handed 24. She will also serve six years probation and is never allowed behind the wheel for the rest of her life.
According to NBC Miami, Mendoza begged for forgiveness during her sentencing.
“No matter how much time passes they will never leave my heart. I think about them everyday and I regret my choices everyday,” she said. “I don’t remember deciding to drive that night so I can’t even tell you what was going through my mind when I made that decision. I have no excuses for anything I’ve done, I just ask for forgiveness,” she said while reading a prepared letter.
The families of the two she killed were unforgiving, apparently. They asked for the maximum sentence, saying she ruined their lives forever.