PONTIAC (WWJ) -- A Waterford Township woman will spend up to 15 years in prison after she was convicted of driving drunk, causing a deadly crash last year in Pontiac.
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office said Thursday that 31-year-old Jessica Lenore Kellar was sentenced to 2 1⁄2 to 15 years in prison this week, after pleading guilty to to alcohol-related felony charges in death of Kirt Keenan Stalker — a motorcyclist from White Lake.
On Sept. 15, 2023, investigators said Kellar was driving a GMC Canyon pickup truck in Downtown Pontiac when she mace a left-hand turn, hitting Stalker at the intersection of Woodward Ave. and Huron St.
The 70-year-old man, who was thrown off his Triumph Bonneville motorcycle, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Kellar was charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with an occupant less than age 16. She had a 15-year-old passenger with her in the truck.
Investigators determined Kellar’s blood alcohol level at the time of the incident was 0.10%, the sheriff's office said — which is above Michigan's legal limit of .08%.
Kellar pleaded guilty on Aug. 6 in Oakland County Circuit Court, and was sentenced on Wednesday.
“While I am appreciative this individual is held accountable for their actions, it continues to frustrate me that people intentionally and willfully get behind the wheel of a car after they’ve been drinking and put others at risk,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “Lives are destroyed and lost through this reckless behavior and hopefully this sends a message to others to make a simple, easy choice of finding an alternative ride if they have been drinking.”
Kellar and her passenger were not injured in the crash.
The sheriff's office noted that Stalker was wearing a helmet.