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 by officers from the Luthersville Police Department; although

Peachtree 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