Stephen Herzog

SHERZOG@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A Springfield man who pleaded guilty in October to involuntary manslaughter for his role in a fatal crash will not go to prison.

Dylan A. Meyer, 21, was sentenced Friday to probation by Judge David Jones.

Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson called it "a slap on the wrist" in a press release. Prosecutors had pushed for 10 years in prison.

Police say Meyer was driving drunk early on Feb. 10, 2015, when he crashed into a car driven by Kelly D. Williams, 38, near Campbell Avenue and Battlefield Road.

A probable cause statement says Meyer's pickup truck was traveling 95 mph leading up to the crash, and Williams' car was split in two by the impact.

The statement says first responders could smell "a strong odor of intoxicants" coming from Meyer, and when they asked him how much he had to drink, his response was "enough." When asked about drug use, Meyer told first responders, "I've done every drug," the statement says.

A bond recommendation document says Meyer's toxicology results showed an alcohol level of .266 percent and the presence of cannabinoids.

At the time of the crash, Meyer had an outstanding warrant for minor in possession of alcohol, and he was on probation for unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the release from prosecutor's office.

The release also said that while Meyer was awaiting judgment in the Greene County Jail, he wrote a letter to a friend saying he didn't want to go prison.

"I may get a 120 day treatment program out of it, if I play this off like I'm an alcoholic," Meyer wrote.

Meyer entered an Alford plea in October, which acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction but is not an admission that the person committed the crime.

The range of punishment for first-degree involuntary manslaughter is 5-10 years.

Laura Askin of Mothers Against Drunk Driving told the News-Leader she was present at Meyer's sentencing on Friday.

"MADD's position is that anytime a weakened sentence, such as the one handed down in this case, is allowed it sends a message that killing someone while driving under the influence is not a serious crime," she wrote in an email. "(Williams) lost (her life) and her family and friends will experience the pain of losing her long after Dylan Meyer's probationary sentence is up."

Callie Moench, a public defender who represented Meyer, declined to comment, citing ethical obligations.

Reporter Giacomo Bologna contributed to this report.