Roman L. York was sentenced Tuesday to the maximum six years for causing the traffic death of 74-year-old Myra Eaker on July 4, 2012.
Judge Barry Steelman said York would serve 11 months and 29 days in the workhouse, then be on house arrest under the Community Corrections program for the remainder of the term.
York, the former new car sales manager at Hunt Nissan, said he is so remorseful that he "would gladly trade places" with the wreck victim.
He said he plans to visit the site of the head-on collision on the anniversary date each year "and pray for her forgiveness."
Traffic Investigator Joe Warren said York's 2008 Nissan Titan pickup truck was traveling westbound on Shallowford Road when he started to go across to the opposing lane of traffic and clipped a Lexus SUV. He said the pickup did not slow down before colliding with the 1998 Buick Park Avenue driven by Ms. Eaker. He said there was so much force that the Eaker vehicle was knocked back 40 feet.
It happened near Edgmon Forest Lane.
Prosecutor Kate Lavery noted that York had just gotten the pickup from a repair shop after earlier running into a pole.
And she said he clipped another vehicle near a Walgreens parking lot a half hour before the fatal wreck. She said he would have faced a more serious charge except for the fact that the officer who investigated the wreck at Walgreens did not find that he was impaired.
The prosecutor said York, however, knew that he was too impaired to continue driving.
Police said York was also injured and was transported to Erlanger Hospital, where a forced blood draw was taken. It did not reveal any alcohol, but did show a level of Xanex just below the lethal amount, it was stated.
Police said such a dose of Xanex would cause drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination and diminished reflexes.
An officer attempted to interview York at the hospital, but determined he was incoherent so the questioning was stopped.
York had one DUI on his record before a 2002 incident in which former county deputy Frank Smith said he told him that if he kept drinking and driving "you're going to end up killing somebody." York registered .28 - over triple drunk - on that occasion. However, that case was not prosecuted because Deputy Smith was terminated from the Sheriff's Office.
Rhonda Sebock, daughter of the victim, read an emotional statement in which she said her mother that day was on her way to meet her husband and they were going to get Vacation Bible School supplies. She said she had worked 15 years at Bi-Lo.
She said her mother did not get to celebrate her 60th wedding anniversary or her husband's 80th birthday.
Defense attorney Jay Underwood said York did not have any write ups while being on the House Arrest Systems program for two years after getting out of jail. He served 45 days before making bond.
He said he has a good work record and most recently has been a pipefitter.