In court Monday Ivette Nieves-Barsuglia described her life the past 2 1/2 years since the death of Dayanna Gil.
Gil was an 18-year-old high school student struck early one April morning along Lucero Drive.
Nieves-Barsuglia initially denied responsibility and, in court, reiterated that she initially thought a truck had hit her while she drove to work in Martin County.
Nieves-Barsuglia had no prior criminal history and spent her entire career in law enforcement.
She apologized to the Gil family Monday. "I'm so truly sorry that I caused this pain to this family."
The judge sentenced her to 15 years for vehicular homicide followed by 10 years’ probation for leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with evidence.
Dayanna’s family feels justice was served.
"She killed Dayanna. She deserves to pay for her life. She was a young life. 18-year-old girl full of health, full of joy and she took that away from us,” said Dayanna’s godfather Aldo Guzman.
Since the crash, the city of Port St. Lucie has put up additional stop signs along Lucero Drive not far from where Dayanna was struck and killed.
Some residents in that area say people don't pay attention to those stop signs and speed up and down that road
