A Washington Boro woman faces a minimum of nine years in prison after pleading guilty in Lancaster County Court today to driving drunk and causing a fatal accident that left three men dead.
Sarah L. Timblin, 23, pleaded guilty to three counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of intoxicants for the accident on Route 30 near Park City Center in March.
Under Pennsylvania law, each charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of three years in prison, President Judge Louis J. Farina told Timblin, and because there were multiple victims, the sentences must be served consecutively.
Farina ordered a background investigation on Timblin, at the request of defense attorney Andrew Spade, before he imposes sentence at a later date.
Assistant District Attorney Todd Brown told the judge that the accident happened around 2:40 a.m. on March 11 when Timblin drove her sport utility vehicle down the wrong way of the Harrisburg Pike exit ramp and onto the eastbound lanes of Route 30, crashing head-on into an oncoming car.
All three people in the car — Inocente Sanchez, 40, his brother, Luis Sanchez, 45, and Marlin Banks, 47 — died at the scene, the judge was told. The three men, all from York, were on their way to work at the time of the accident, police said.
About three dozen members of the victims' families crowded into the spectator section of the courtroom this morning, along with several supporters of Timblin. All listened quietly to the brief proceeding, some dabbing tears from their eyes.
Timblin, who was arrested the day after the accident, has been held in Lancaster County Prison pending the outcome of her court case.
This morning, dressed in a black shirt, gray slacks and white shoes, Timblin only answered Farina's questions as to whether she understood her legal rights and what possible prison term she faces.
In addition to three counts of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of intoxicants, Timblin also faces sentencing for three additional counts of homicide by vehicle, two counts of driving under the influence of intoxicants, reckless driving and driving the wrong way on a roadway.
Typically in such cases, statements are made on behalf of the defendant and the victims at the time of sentencing.
At the time of the accident, police said Timblin, who was not seriously hurt, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.26 percent, which is more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
It was her second offense for drunken driving, according to records. In 2006, Timblin was arrested for drunken driving after police found her passed out behind the wheel of a van, which was still running but stuck on top of a curb on Columbia Avenue.
Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026.
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