ROCHESTER, Ind. — Alyssa Shepherd, the Indiana woman found guilty in the October 2018 bus stop crash that killed three children and seriously injured a fourth, was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday.
Shepherd, 25, who faced up to 21 1/2 years in prison, was also ordered to serve three years on house arrest, with three years suspended with probation. Her driver’s license was suspended for 10 years.
Shepherd struck and killed 9-year-old Alivia Stahl, and the girl’s 6-year-old twin half brothers, Xzavier and Mason Ingle. Shepherd did not stop for a waiting school bus on Indiana 25, north of Rochester in the morning hours of Oct. 30, 2018. The bus driver had the vehicle’s stop arm and flashing lights activated as the children were crossing the road.
A boy unrelated to the three siblings, 11-year-old Maverik Lowe, was also hit by Shepherd but survived with serious injuries.
After Fulton County Superior Court Judge Greg Heller handed down Shepherd’s sentence, the mother of the children killed in the crash, Brittany Ingle, lunged at Shepherd in the courtroom and had to be restrained. Ingle was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.
Alyssa Shepherd, 24, was arrested on reckless homicide charges after a deadly crash in Fulton County, ISP said. (Photo: Provided by Indiana State Police)
Shepherd was convicted in October of three counts of reckless homicide, one count of passing a school bus causing injury and one count of criminal recklessness resulting in serious bodily injury. She could have been sentenced up to 21 years in prison.
Oct. 30, 2018: Twin boys, sister killed by pickup truck at Indiana school bus stop
“We all feel as a family that killing three children should have been a more stringent penalty, but we’re glad that she is going to get some time served,” said Michael Schwab, the grandfather of the three children who were killed. “Children remain our greatest gift and if you’re not going to hold people accountable when they get hurt, then we may as well just get rid of laws.”
Fulton County Prosecutor Michael Marrs said the state asked for a 14-year sentence with 10 years of jail time.
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