A Jonesboro woman who killed

a Peachtree City man as she fled police on a high-speed chase in July

avoided a trial Monday by pleading guilty to vehicular homicide in the

first degree.

Lorraine McCrary, 37, was sentenced

to 15 years in prison by Superior Court Judge Johnnie L. Caldwell Jr.

Monday morning. In return for the guilty plea, prosecutors dropped other

charges including murder, attempting to elude a police officer, speeding,

a child safety restraint violation and two counts of reckless conduct.

Because McCrary was legally

intoxicated when the crash occurred, she must serve 13 1/2 years of the

sentence before she can be considered for parole, said District Attorney

Bill McBroom. At the time of the collision, McCrary was being pursued

City police got little advance notice, they managed to block major intersections

on Ga. Highway 54 as the chase sped through the city.

The crash killed Chuck Vicha,

who was living with his mother Alice in Peachtree City. Vicha's vehicle

was struck as he attempted to turn left onto Ga. Highway 54 just outside

the eastern city limits the evening of July 27, according to police. Three

children in McCrary's car at the time of the crash were also injured.

Alice Vicha addressed McCrary

in court Monday morning before Caldwell issued the sentence. Alice Vicha

displayed a photo of her son to McCrary and said she wanted McCrary to

remember her son, especially on the anniversary of the fatal crash and

on his birthday, Oct. 13.

"I will be thinking about

you on July 27," Vicha said, referring to the date of the fatal collision.

Vicha said she hoped McCrary,

who was in a wheelchair, continued to recover from her crash-related injuries,

"but I do hope you remember my son and our families."

Vicha said she misses her son

and his death affects her every day, particularly when she learns of another

deadly auto accident.

"I'll never ever ever

forget the policeman coming to my door and (me) screaming for two hours,"

she said. "I don't know if I'll ever get over that."

"The choice you made has

given me so much pain," Vicha said. "I go in the house and call

his name and silence comes