Charlotte County woman gets 4 years for hit-and-run that killed teen Terrell Bruce

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)— 33 year old Angelica Clark pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of a hit-and-run crash that killed 17-year-old Terrell Bruce and was sentenced to four years in prison.

The courtroom was filled with emotion as Bruce's family members, including his mother, sister, aunt and grandmother, addressed the judge and Clark. Clark apologized to the family after accepting her plea deal, which also includes three years of probation.

"I know there's nothing I can do to bring your son back, and I'm so sorry," Clark said.

Bruce's mother, Lyndsay Bruce, held her son's ashes as she spoke in court.

"I am forever living a life sentence, as is Terrell, because the end result was ultimately him being left for dead, and subsequently he died," Lyndsay Bruce said.

The family wore red and black T-shirts with Terrell's face on the front and a tribute to the six lives he saved through organ donation on the back.

"Terrell lived 6,262 days, and his body held on for two additional days to give the gift of life to six individuals: a 53-year-old man, a 70-year-old man, an 11-month-old baby girl, a 42-year-old mother, a 13-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old girl," Lyndsay Bruce said. "My son Terrell Bruce died a hero, and although he wasn't given the opportunity to put up a fight, we, the family, have fought for justice for him."

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Clark had several drinks before the crash. Bruce was riding his e-bike home from work when they collided on Willmington Blvd. and Coliseum Blvd. , knocking him back 15 feet, according to investigators.

"The defendant admitted to seeing my son, to being intoxicated, to fleeing the scene, to save herself, all while my son lie in critical condition, something as the one to discover him, I'll never forget," Lyndsay Bruce said.

Bruce's sister, Aubrey Deming-Hernandez, addressed Clark directly during the hearing.

"I want you to see Terrell's face," Deming-Hernandez said. "This is the life that you took. You did not hit a cat or a dog or a deer, you hit my 17 year old brother. and then you left. You left him there, and he lied there, scared, critically injured, and all alone."

The family expressed frustration with the length of Clark's sentence. Bruce's aunt, Courtney Deming, questioned how the plea deal was reached.

"I just don't understand how a four-year plea deal could even be considered, knowing that she has a history, knowing that she admitted post Miranda, and all of the things my sister has to live forever without her son," Deming said.

Deming-Hernandez said she worries about the message the sentence sends.

"People who drink or take substances and drive, they're gonna think they can get away with this," Deming-Hernandez said. "And an innocent life was taken when it could have possibly been saved."

Deming-Hernandez said she will miss her brother's impact on those around him.

"I'll definitely miss his smile and his jokes and everything," Deming-Hernandez said. "That's something too. Like I hope it really does impact her and everyone that like will never get to see him again. All we have is pictures."

Bruce's family adds that he was looking forward to his junior year at Lemon Bay high school, with a future hope of becoming a veterinarian.