HOT SPRINGS -- A Hot Springs woman pleaded guilty Tuesday to negligent homicide in a fatal traffic accident and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with 10 years suspended.
At the time of the April 2014 accident, Laurie Lee Lowrey, 45, was on probation after receiving suspended sentences for felony drug convictions in 2009 and 2012, and those suspensions were revoked after her arrest.
She was sentenced Tuesday to 10 years in prison on each of the revocations to run concurrent with her new sentence.
According to the police affidavit, shortly before 6:30 p.m. on April 20, Arkansas State Police Trooper Josh Heckel responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Albert Pike and Thornton Ferry Road. At the scene he found the operator of a 1997 Suzuki motorcycle, Nicholas T. Rice, 26, of Hot Springs, dead from the impact.
Heckel wrote that evidence at the scene indicated Rice was eastbound on Albert Pike approaching the intersection in the inside lane, and Lowrey, driving a beige 1999 Oldsmobile 88, was westbound on Albert Pike in the turn lane attempting to turn left onto Thornton Ferry Road.
Lowrey initiated the turn and traveled into the eastbound lane, where her vehicle hit Rice's motorcycle head-on.
While talking with Lowrey, Heckel noted her pupils were dilated and that she appeared to be grinding and clenching her teeth, had eyelid tremors, could not stand still and would make spontaneous movements, the affidavit said.
Lowrey's blood and urine samples were sent to the state Crime Laboratory in Little Rock for analysis. The findings showed Lowrey tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine and amphetamine, the affidavit said.
A warrant for her arrest was issued, and she was arrested July 24.
At the time of her arrest, a small baggie of marijuana was found in her possession.
In addition to the drug convictions, Lowrey was previously arrested Nov. 29, 2012, and charged with a felony count of hindering apprehension or prosecution concerning the whereabouts of a fugitive being sought by authorities. The charge was withdrawn by prosecutors on Dec. 10, 2013.
The fugitive in that case, identified as Nicholas Matthew Lewondowski, 29, of Little Rock, was ultimately charged with residential burglary and other charges stemming from the manhunt for him.
State Desk on 03/13/2015