JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The woman charged in the deadly hit-and-run crash of a 17-year-old Ed White High School senior negotiated a plea deal, avoiding a possible 15-year prison sentence.
Karlotta Dowdy, 41, was arrested in November and charged with leaving the scene of the crash resulting in serious bodily injury.
Dowdy was back in court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty.
The plea deal includes a one-year community control sentence with an ankle monitor, one year without an ankle monitor, three years probation, 100 hours of community service, a suspended driver’s license for three years, and legal and court fees.
She had faced a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
According to the State Attorney’s Office, Dowdy would not have faced charges if she remained on the scene. Based on the circumstances of the case, the SAO also said she did not qualify for prison time.
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Dodwy was one of the three drivers who police said hit Alaysha Williams while she was crossing Blanding Boulevard and Cedar Hills Boulevard on Sept. 30.
Williams was taken to the hospital, where she died from her injuries two days later.
The other two drivers stopped and cooperated with investigators after the crash. Because Williams was not in a crosswalk, they were not charged.
Investigators said Dowdy left the scene. She was caught on video stopping several blocks from the crash, checking her vehicle for damage, and then driving off, leaving Williams' backpack behind.
According to police, the investigation revealed that Dowdy was driving the second of three vehicles to strike Williams. Although it cannot be definitively determined which vehicle caused the injuries that led to Williams' death, video evidence indicates Dowdy’s vehicle caused significant bodily injury.
Williams' mother, Tiereny Williams, who was in court on Zoom, said the situation changed her life since losing her daughter.
“A part of us has been ripped away. Never in a million years would I have thought I would have to bury my children. My baby who only started living her life,” Williams said. “Alaysha won’t be able to do senior activities. She had dreams after high school.”