MIAMI – A Florida International University student who struck and killed a federal agent after a night of heavy drinking in South Beach was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday.
In October, Jordana Rosales pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, leaving the scene of an accident involving death and reckless driving.
Rosales, 23, was also sentenced to five years of probation in the case. Her final sentence was less than expected. She could have received up 50 years in prison for the charges.
Fighting back tears, Rosales read a statement in court before the sentence was handed down.
"I never intended to hurt anybody," she said. "There's no excuse for my action in leaving the scene of the accident, and I have come, I have come to recognize the gravity of the situation, but again, all I can say is that I'm truly sorry for my regrettable actions."
The crash was reported just after 2 a.m. Jan. 15, 2016, on Collins Avenue near Espanola Way.
Miami Beach police said the two U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were flagging down a taxi and speaking with the driver when Rosales made a U-turn in her Mercedes E250.
Police said Rosales noticed the stopped taxi and swerved towards the curb to avoid it, striking the two men.
Rosales fled the scene after the crash, authorities said.
One of the agents suffered a broken leg and the other, Scott McGuire, died at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
McGuire's widow, Suzy Rivera, had mixed emotions after the sentence was handed down.
"At least we don't have to keep dealing with this .. I don't like to say the word closure, because there is no closure. Because he's gone. He's not coming back," she said.