Palatine Woman Who Did Shots Before Fatal Crash Sentenced to 5 Years

A Palatine woman who admitted to doing shots at a holiday party before causing a head-on collision that killed a woman was sentenced to five years in prison in a plea deal Thursday, the Daily Herald reports.

Amber Honaker, 25, pleaded guilty to aggravated driving under the influence involving a death and a great bodily harm in exchange for the five-year sentence, the report stated. Honaker could have faced a maximum sentence of 14 years in connection with last year's crash that seriously injured Theresa Micelli, 85, and her husband, Joseph, 84, both of South Barrington. Theresa Micelli died from her injuries two days later.

RELATED: Palatine Woman Did Shots at Holiday Party Before Crash: Cops

The Micellis—married for 66 years—were driving north on Mundhank Road near Higgins Road in South Barrington the night of Dec. 7, when Honaker hit the couple's car as she was traveling southbound. Honaker had left a holiday party where she had drank several shots, and her blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit at the time, and prosecutors claim she thought the two-lane highway she was on was actually four lanes.

During sentencing, Honaker asked the Micelli family for forgiveness, the report stated. But relatives and Joseph Micelli asked the court to give Honaker the maximum, 14-year punishment, the report added.

"Whatever sentence you give her will not compensate us enough for our loss, but please try," Joseph Micelli said, according to the Herald.

More via the Daily Herald

PHOTO: Amber Honaker (South Barrington Police)

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