Birmingham Woman Sentenced After Deadly DUI Crash

BIRMINGHAM, AL — More than two years after hitting and killing a woman with her car, a Birmingham woman pleaded guilty to a felony charge of manslaughter in the fatal DUI crash. The victim was identified as 35-year-old LaToya P. Brown.

Chantera Janae Bell, 28, entered her plea in a Jefferson County courtroom Monday, according to an Alabama Media Group report. The crash happened at 12:07 a.m. on March 27, 2017 at Sixth Avenue South and First Street. In addition to the manslaughter charge, she also pleaded guilty to felony leaving the scene of an accident with injuries or death, which is a felony, and to a misdemeanor count of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Authorities said Brown, who lived nearby, was walking in the northbound lane when she was struck by a Hyundai Elantra that was traveling eastbound. Brown was pronounced dead on the scene .

Bell was initially charged with operating a motor vehicle in excess of the posted speed limits and/or while under the influence of alcohol and/or a controlled substance.

Bell was sentenced to 10 years, with six months of weekends to actually serve. After her six-month sentence is complete, she will be on probation for four years. Should she violate the terms of her probation, she would be required to serve the full 10 years in prison. She also is restricted from drinking alcohol while on probation.