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Ex-Marine Sentenced in Drunk Driving Crash That Leads to Death – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indianapolis Traffic
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Ex-Marine Sentenced in Drunk Driving Crash That Leads to Death – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indianapolis Traffic

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A former Marine was sentenced to 10 years in prison Thursday for a crash prosecutors say was caused by him driving a government vehicle while intoxicated. With time served and probation, Heredia will serve prison time for 3 of those 10 years.

Jaime Heredia, of Greenville, South Carolina, was involved in a crash on July 11, 2022.

Prosecutors say he was driving drunk and going nearly 80 miles per hour when he hit a few sides.

That day, just before 1 p.m., officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to the 8300 block of East 56th Street on reports of a personal injury accident. It’s on the northeast side of town.

When officers arrived, they found Grant Lansdell, 56, and Ashley Lansdell, 51, unconscious and trapped in a car.

Officers also saw Heredia standing next to his destroyed black government-issued Ford Focus, according to court documents. Prosecutors told the judge that Heredia did not attempt to provide any assistance to the victims.

Right after the crash, Heredia told investigators he was returning from physical therapy for a hip injury.

Heredia also told investigators he had consumed a 20-ounce Corona beer earlier in the morning and was taking opiates after they were prescribed for his injury. However, this prescription ended a few weeks before the accident.

Heredia refused to conduct a chemical test on site. He called a corporal from the Marine Corps recruiting office in Indianapolis. The corporal went to the scene of the accident and Heredia asked him to bring a trash bag to the office.

Later that day, the corporal looked inside the bag and found “three beverage cans that contained alcohol at one point but were empty, as well as a Hydra Flask that contained an unknown liquid ”, according to court documents.

Ashley and Grant Lansdell were sent to a local hospital. Grant Lansdell died on arrival at the hospital. Ashley died two weeks later from injuries she suffered in the crash, according to court documents. Ashley taught at Fall Creek Elementary School.

Prosecutors played video of Heredia driving shortly before the crash. The video shows him hitting a dark-colored vehicle.

Heredia was convicted of two class five felony counts of reckless homicide. He was sentenced to five years in prison on the first charge, with two years suspended and one year of probation. He was also ordered to participate in an alcohol treatment program. For the second count, Heredia was sentenced to five years, with 2 years credit for time served, 3 years suspended, and 2 years probation.

The judge told Heredia he would be allowed to return to South Carolina for his probation.

Several family members testified about the impact the Lansdells’ deaths had on their children, parents and other family members. Grant Lansdell’s brother told Heredia he was no longer a Marine because of his actions. Lansdell’s daughter spoke about her father’s love of music and how her life changed because of the accident.

Heredia spoke during the hearing and asked the judge to let him return home to his family in South Carolina. He apologized to the Lansdell family.

Heredia’s lawyers immediately announced their intention to appeal the sentence.