WELD COUNTY - A county judge says it was an accident that could have been prevented. Now, the crash that tore apart a northern Colorado family will keep them separated a lot longer.
It was January 28, 2009 when 28-year-old Danielle Huggins died driving her family's sports utility vehicle. The mother of four was two-months pregnant at the time of the crash.
On Thursday afternoon, her husband 31-year-old Scott Huggins of Milliken was sentenced to a year and a half in jail for his role in the crash. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury and careless driving resulting in death in December. Other charges against him were dismissed. His lawyer says Huggins pleaded guilty to avoid putting the family through a trial.
Several people spoke Thursday at the sentencing. A few talked about what happened right before crash. All agreed the two started yelling at each other in front of the four children in back.
They also agree there was then some kind of physical fight, which caused Danielle Huggins to lose control. The SUV rolled and Danielle Huggins died.
In the time right after the crash, Danielle Huggins' family grieved yet supported Danielle's husband, Scott Huggins. But Thursday in court, Danielle's sisters said Scott Huggins holds some, if not all, responsibility for what happened.
"Unless Scott Huggins is given some time to reflect, he may very well repeat some of the same careless, reckless, abusive behaviors that he's plead guilty to," Deb Larimer, Danielle Huggins' sister, said.
Scott Huggins said he does not deny his role in all this.
"Not a day goes by that I don't wake up with nobody. I don't have my kids, my wife, my house. I can't lose any more. So whatever choice you guys have to make today, I respect that firmly, and I just look forward to moving on and doing what I have to do," Scott Huggins said.
The judge also heard from Danielle Huggin's 11-year-old daughter, who for the past year, has tried to understand why.
"Everybody misses mommy and we all cry for her and wish that she was here. And when I get older, mommy is not going to be there for me, and I just want my mommy, and it's not fair," the girl said.
Scott Huggins was taken into custody right after the sentence.
He will spend more than a year sleeping in jail at night and working during the day. He will then have several years of intensive supervised probation.
There was also discussion about the kids Thursday. Scott Huggins was the father of only one of them His lawyer said he'll seek custody of her when his work-release ends.
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