Woman, 19, sentenced for wreck that killed friend on I-5 near Milton
A 19-year-old woman has been sentenced for a wreck that killed her friend last year on Interstate 5 near Milton.
Zoe Phillips pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide Monday for the death of 20-year-old Cindy Thach and to vehicular assault for another friend who was injured in the crash, according to court records.
Superior Court Judge James Orlando sentenced the Lakewood teenager to four years, which was below her standard range. That’s what the state recommended.
The crash happened Aug. 22 near the Pierce-King county line.
Phillips allegedly told investigators they were on their way home from a party in Seattle and that she smoked marijuana and had some alcohol, but “not a lot” to drink, charging papers said.
Phillips lost control and hit a guardrail, and another vehicle crashed into the back passenger door.
“After the initial collision, her vehicle was disabled and sitting in the middle of the freeway,” deputy prosecutor Tim Jones wrote in a statement to the court. “The vehicle was struck by another vehicle at the same moment the back-seat passenger began to exit the vehicle.”
Employers, a teacher, a coach and others wrote letters to the court in support of Phillips prior to the sentencing. The letters said Phillips faced challenges in her childhood. They described her as a kind and caring teenager with career goals.
