COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A judge has sentenced a 28-year-old man to 25 years in prison for the hit-and-run death of a student in Colorado Springs.
Fourth Judicial District Judge Thomas Kelly Kane handed down the sentence Friday to Vincent Fernando Garcia for the October death of University of Colorado at Colorado Springs freshman Zachary S. Schlagel.
The Gazette reports that Fernando ran a red light and struck the 19-year-old Schlagel and another person in a crosswalk near the university. Schlagel was thrown 100 feet and Garcia sped away as two passengers shouted at him to stop.
Garcia drove to the mountains, where he stayed for two days before turning himself in.
Garcia apologized in court, saying words could not convey his remorse.
Schlagel’s mother, Holly Schlagel, says her family is struggling to regain stability.