GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Kelton Snulligan was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for a double-fatal, high-speed drunken driving crash in July 2023 in Allouez.
Snulligan, 24, previously pleaded no contest to five counts: homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, two counts of causing injury while under the influence, second-degree reckless homicide and second-degree reckless injury. Several other counts were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Trevor Herman, a passenger in Snulligan’s car, and Luis Rios-Alvarado, who was driving the vehicle Snulligan struck, were killed in the crash, while several others were injured. The crash happened on Webster Avenue in Allouez, as Snulligan was trying to bring a friend with alcohol poisoning to the hospital. He was driving more than 100 miles per hour and was drunk, according to prosecutors.
Before the sentence was issued, several people addressed the court about the impact the crash and deaths have had on their lives. Tina Anderson, Herman’s mother, said she’s a changed person because of the loss of her son.
“I find it extremely difficult to find the words to explain to others the sorrow that I feel. You see, it’s not just missing how my life was, but it’s also learning to live with what will never be in my life, ever again,” she said.
Luis Rios, the brother of Rios-Alvarado “I hope that none of you have to look at your parents in the face and tell them that their son is never coming back. The image that I will always remember that night is my mother running through the house looking and calling his name, and me having to stop her, because she’s never going to find him. I didn’t just lose my brother that night. I lost my best friend.”
Amanda Dart, Snulligan’s mother, said Kelton had no intention to hurt anyone and was just trying to help. She also expressed sympathy to the other families.
“We do grieve deeply for the other families. I don’t know what else to say, other than there’s not enough words. There’s nothing we can say to ever to make them feel better or take away their pain. But if we could, we would. And I pray for them every day,” Dart said.
Snulligan also offered condolences to the victim’s families.
“I understand my actions caused a terrible accident, that it caused just an unimaginable loss,” he said.
I pray every night that the Lord helps heal the people involved with this accident. And that, maybe one day, He will help them forgive me for the decision I chose to make that caused them to lose brothers, siblings, children.
Judge Tammy Jo Hock said none of Snulligan’s actions, even if well intentioned, make any sense. But it is mitigating factor that there was no malice, she said.
She also placed Snulligan on extended supervision for 10 years after his prison term is completed.
The case had several delays and unusual events since it was charged more than two years ago.
The case was dismissed and refiled last year in a tactical move by prosecutors, citing scheduling conflicts for a prosecutor, witnesses and unavailability of the parents of one of the victims, which started the case over from scratch.
A trial scheduled for Aug. 25 was postponed earlier this year due to witness scheduling conflicts. A trial had been planned for Sept. 29 before the plea deal had been reached, but the defense had asked that date to be postponed.
