Watch CBS News

Woman Who Served Teens Beer Before Fatal Crash Sentenced

GREENSBURG (KDKA) -- Susan Sanders-Watt was sentenced Thursday to one year of house arrest plus an additional three years of probation after pleading guilty to serving a half keg of beer at her son's graduation party nearly two years ago.

In June of 2010, Michael Simpson, Jordan Cobb and Carlie Kudray, three Greensburg Salem High School students who were drinking at the party, were killed in a car crash after leaving.

"Please know that no matter what sentence was given to Mrs. Watt today does not bring our children back," Mollie Cobb, Jordan's mother, said. "It doesn't comfort us in any way, it doesn't have any closure really for us."

The teens arrived at the party around 2:15 a.m. the morning of the crash. They left a half hour later.

Michael Simpson, the driver, returned to the party and asked for a beer for the road. His empty cup was found at the crash site.

Police say it appears that Sanders-Watt was not supervising the children while they were drinking.

"I am so sorry for making such a bad decision. I thought I could control it and I didn't and I am so sorry," she told the judge through tears.

The victims' families have long hoped that Sanders-Watt would serve time in jail. They are disappointed with the sentence, but also support the judge's decision.

"I was hoping though to send a message to the parents that are having graduation parties this month and next month," Cobb said. "You know, if they see probation, 'Oh, well, that's not so bad.'

"If they see she got out of her seat and went to jail even … for a few months, you know, that might get their attention."

RELATED LINKS
Woman Pleads Guilty To Serving Teens Before Deadly DUI
Local Mother Charged In Accident That Killed 3 Teens
Woman Heads To Trial For Providing Alcohol To Teens

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.