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DUI Driver Accused Of Killing 6-Year-Old Faces 5 To 10 Years In Prison

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Tuesday was sentencing day for a man accused of being drunk and high behind the wheel when he struck and killed a 6-year-old girl.

Twenty-two-year-old Travis Grayson pleaded guilty in court to homicide by vehicle while under the influence.

Grayson is now heading to prison for 5 to 10 years.

travis-grayson
(Photo Courtesy: Allegheny County Police)

The family of 6-year-old Ava Campbell has waited for some time of justice for more than a year now, and Tuesday, they got the first step.

Campbell was hit and killed as she was leaving a birthday celebration with her mother on Sept. 26, 2015. Grayson, the driver, said at the time of his arrest that he had 10 beers and smoked a bowl of marijuana before getting behind the wheel.

Investigators estimated he was driving at about 85 miles an hour in a 25 mile-per-hour zone at the time of the crash.

Standing before Judge Manning, Grayson said, "To Ava, and her family, I am truly sorry."

Outside the courtroom later, Campbell family friend Amy Ober told reporters, "I don't feel that was heartfelt sorry, if I was addressing the family of a child that I took from them, I probably would have turned around and said it."

"I can't imagine the horror of that night, when he realized what he had done," defense attorney Pat Thomassey said. "When he was interviewed by police, all Travis kept saying was, 'I can't believe I hit this little girl.'"

Prior to last year's fatal accident, police had cited Grayson three times for underage drinking.

Grayon's 5-to-10-year sentence encompasses a list of charges including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault by a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

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