Man Pleads Guilty To Driving Intoxicated, Causing Fatal Gibson Co. Accident
By: Kayla Moody
Updated: January 11, 2013
A man accused of causing a fatal accident while driving intoxicated pleads guilty. The crash happened on Highway 168 just outside of Fort Branch last June. Investigators say Anthony Yokel crossed the center lane and a car driven by Lauren R. Hale, 20, head-on. Hale was pronounced dead on the scene.
Investigators say Yokel was driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Thursday he appeared in Gibson County Superior Court where he entered a guilty plea.
Hale's family says no punishment will ever truly bring justice. "We have pictures, and we have memories, and we have a cold grave stone -- and that's all we have. He will have the rest of his life, no matter what kind of sentence he gets," says Stacey Kolhouse, Hale's mother. "I hope he thinks about her every day of his life. That's the only justice that there could be, that he carries that around with him the rest of his life -- that he took her away from us."
Yokel was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail. He will be sentenced February 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Watch the above video to hear more from Lauren Hale's mother.
Investigators say Yokel was driving while under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Thursday he appeared in Gibson County Superior Court where he entered a guilty plea.
Hale's family says no punishment will ever truly bring justice. "We have pictures, and we have memories, and we have a cold grave stone -- and that's all we have. He will have the rest of his life, no matter what kind of sentence he gets," says Stacey Kolhouse, Hale's mother. "I hope he thinks about her every day of his life. That's the only justice that there could be, that he carries that around with him the rest of his life -- that he took her away from us."
Yokel was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail. He will be sentenced February 14 at 1:30 p.m.
Watch the above video to hear more from Lauren Hale's mother.
