Driver in deadly DUI crash sentenced to 23 years

PLANT CITY, Fla. (FOX 13) - Amy Dudeck survived a deadly crash. The scars, pain, and anguish of that day live with her.

"My life consists of extreme pain, PTSD, depression, anxiety, pills, pills, and more pills. I wake up to hurting, stiffness, pills to lower my pain, pills to lower my depression so I don't sit and cry all day," said Dudeck.

In Sept. 2015, Amy, her husband, and her one-year-old daughter were on State Road 39 near Plant City when prosecutors say David Flagagan was driving drunk and rear-ended Amy's vehicle.

The force of the impact sent Amy’s car onto the southbound lanes, slamming head-on into a Toyota Corolla.

The driver, Garrett Gottschall and his wife, Nalee were killed.

Flanagan pleaded guilty to several felonies including two counts of manslaughter with culpable negligence.

At his sentencing Friday, Nalee's brother, Fue Yang said he just cannot forgive, at least not yet. 

"Yesterday I went to my sisters grave and I didn't even I didn't grieve I was angry and I couldn't forgive," said Yang.

Garrett's uncle, Tom Knick wanted everyone to know what the world lost.

"He was always the first one to grab the football and jump on the trampoline with the kids. He was our cheerleader," said Knick.

Flanagan, a veteran, came home a broken man, he was receiving treatment from the VA but his aunt, Marsha Decena says he was spiraling out of control.

"He would have recurrent nightmares that would wake us up in the middle of the night," explained Decena.

Flanagan apologized for the lifetime of pain he had caused so many people.

"I am so sorry for taking the one thing that I can't replace. I hope my sentencing can give you all some closure," said Flanagan. 

Hillsborough Circuit Judge Tom Barber had the last word, sentencing Flanagan to 23 years in prison.

"You cannot kill two people and destroy the life of three others and not go to prison," said Judge Barber.