FAYETTEVILLE -- A Springdale woman was sentenced to jail time and probation Tuesday for leaving the scene of an accident in September that left a male pedestrian dead and a woman injured.
Washington County Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor sentenced Griselda Yanira Arrue, 37, to 120 days in jail and 72 months' probation along with associated court costs after she pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a personal-injury accident.
Hector Antonio Regalado-Sandoval, 45, of Springdale died following the incident, and Emma River-Octaviana, 42, of Springdale was taken to Northwest Medical Center-Springdale, according to the Arkansas State Police. The two were walking north across Robinson Avenue near Long Street on Sept. 27 when they were hit.
A Springdale police report said the incident happened near Y Liquors, 1817 S. Thompson. Video footage showed the two struck by a white car that drove away, according to the State Police report. Arrue was arrested the next day.
She initially was arrested on a negligent homicide charge as well. Prosecutors said the reduced charge in the plea bargain was because the area was dark and the victims weren't in the area of a crosswalk.
Arrue told police and the judge she panicked after hitting the pair and drove away. She apologized to the victims' families during her sentencing.
"I feel very sorry about it," Arrue said. "I did not want it to be this way."
NW News on 04/20/2016