Plea bargain results: 1 year each for 7 young lives

Alvin Wilkerson is shown as he appeared in a Florida court room Thursday. (Associated Press photo)

The Associated Press

6/13/2008

LAKE BUTLER, Fla. — A former truck driver whose 18-wheeler authorities said plowed into a car and killed seven young members of the same family in Lake Butler, Fla., more than two years ago was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison as part of a plea deal.

Alvin Wilkerson pleaded no contest to seven counts of vehicular homicide and 10 counts of culpable negligence causing injury in the 2006 crash. He had been free on his own recognizance since shortly after the incident.

Wilkerson asked the judge not to see him as a heartless person, saying "the only way I do make it through is with God's help. I have to ask him daily to forgive me."

Officials said Wilkerson was hauling a load of bottled water when his big rig crashed into the stopped car, the occupants of which were all related. The car then burst into flames and was forced under a stopped school bus.

The car was being illegally driven by a 15-year-old with only a learner’s permit.