Mother Of DUI Crash Victim Gets Flashes Of 'Her Little Body Lying There All Broken'

BRIGHTON, Colo. (CBS4) - A 24-year-old woman was killed after being hit by a drunk driver, and the woman who admitted she drove while almost five times over the legal limit learned her punishment on Thursday.

The crash happened in November when Robbin Verser, 57, ran a red light and killed Ashley Bradberry. Verser pleaded guilty in February.

There were about a dozen of Bradberry's family members in court for the sentencing. There were also members of the suspect's family present. At times things became very tense as both sides were clearly overcome with emotion.

The sentencing range under the vehicular homicide DUI plea was four to 12 years. The judge sentenced Verser to the higher end -- nine years with a mandatory five years of parole.

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Bradberry's family members talked a lot at the sentencing about her kind and gentle spirit and her constant smile that was captured on shirts many of them wore.

Verser didn't speak at the sentencing but her lawyer talked about how she suffered from alcoholism and didn't intentionally drive that morning knowing she was drunk.

Bradberry's family says they were dismayed by the sentencing. They said they hope Verser serves the whole nine years.

"My family is crushed that she got nine years and she'll probably only serve three or four. I don't feel justice was served at all," Bradberry's mother Jackie Ketelsen said.

"I wake up in the morning, I see her pictures and I'm like, 'I can't believe she's gone,' " Ketelsen said. "And it's the same thing, it's horrible, every day, every single day. Getting in my car and not being able to drive because I get flashes of Ashley being crashed and her little body lying there all broken and everything."

Verser's brother told CBS4 his family is devastated by what happened that day and that if he could give his life to spare Bradberry's, he would.

"Ashley didn't deserve this at all. She never had a ticket in life," Ketelsen said.

Verser was taken into custody and has now started her sentence.