ALBANY – A 41-year-old Troy woman was sentenced to two and a third to seven years in prison after pleading guilty driving drunk on Alternate Route 7 in Colonie and killing an 18-year-old girl.
On Oct. 11, 2016, Jessica Bellerose attempted to pass multiple vehicles while driving her 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix, according to District Attorney David Soares. She sideswiped a Subaru, drive into the center median and her car became airborne. Upon landing, the vehicle crashed into the car of a westbound vehicle driven by Paige Ahearn.
The crash killed Ahearn and injured her passenger.
A blood test showed Bellerose had a BAC of .14.
On March 16, 2016, Bellerose pleaded guilty to manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter and DWI.
“This was a 100 percent preventable crash that left an 18-year-old young woman dead and her family and community forever changed because of the selfish and deadly decisions of the defendant,” Soares said.
In addition to prison time, Albany County Judge Thomas Breslin sentenced her to three years probation, revoked her license for at least six months and will require her to insall an ignition interlock device.
Vehicular Crimes Unit Bureau Chief Mary Tanner-Richter and Assistant District Attorney David Szalda prosecuted.
