Jody Allen Hyde, 28, had originally pleaded not guilty in the drunk-driving deaths of Elizabeth Jean Alley, 45, and Vada Stafford Delk, 72, on County Road 304 the night of October 20, 2014.
But his blood-alcohol level had registered at 0.148. The legal limit in Florida is 0.08.
He never reacted to Palm Coast resident Eileen Wojczyszyn’s Hyundai as it was stopped on State Road 100, getting ready to make a turn onto County Road 305. Hyde crashed his Ford F-150 into the Hyundai, sending it into oncoming traffic. It collided with another car, that of Carl Alley, a head-on crash that killed the two women passengers in Alley’s car, including his wife, and severely injured him.
Hyde, a resident of Georgia and Gainesville, escaped injuries. In March 2016 he was charged with seven drunk-driving related counts ranging from two DUI manslaughter charges to DUI with serious bodily injury, property damage and simple DUI. He originally faced two second-degree felonies and two third-degree felonies. Had he stuck with his not-guilty plea, gone to trial and been found guilty, he would have faced a prison sentence of a minimum of 20 years, and a maximum of 30.
Instead, in April he pleaded guilty to three charges–the two DUI manslaughter charges and one DUI property damage charge–in exchange for the remaining charges being dropped. On May 31, Circuit Judge Dennis Craig Sentenced Hyde to a sentence of 10 years in prison. That will be followed by five years’ probation. He is also to pay restitution. The amount is yet to be determined. He will have to pay $836 in court fees and costs.
With good behavior, Hyde may be released from prison after he’s served 80 percent of his sentence, so he may be released in 2025, when he is 36.
The case had been investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol’s traffic homicide investigator Pete Young.
disappointed says
Good job Corporal Young!
Shawn says
So for over 2 years this guy pleads not guilty and then his lawyer enlightens him to the fact that staying with this plea he could most likely go to jail for the next 20-30 years why because all the fact and evidence points to the fact that “YOUR FING GUILTY” so you may want to change your plea as so not to have to spend as much time in jail for your killing 2 people and injuring another and ruining the lives of the family members of the victims. So if your a good prisoner in jail you could get out in 8 years and go back to your drinking ways and possibly do it again, right!!! HANG’EM!!
Ben Dover says
he killed 2 people and gets 10 years..what a joke..minimum should have been 20 years, likely 30 if he goes to court..spend the money on proper prosecutions and get these scum bags off the street..
Florida voter says
Thank you Pete Young. I hope the judicial system can support and validate your efforts.
Let the punishment fit the crime:
Keep Hyde in jail as long as Alley and Delk are dead.
Of course, that will never happen since DUI manslaughter is all too common, even among politicians and their families/friends. By the way, “DUI manslaughter” is a euphemism for “killing someone by intentionally using a two ton piece of equipment in a irresponsible, hazardous, and illegal way that you know can easily end in the death of a random person.”
If a person with a gun went in to a public place, closed their eyes and spun in circles shooting the firearm, would that person only get 8 years in jail if they killed two people?
Nancy N. says
Florida state law says that inmates actually have to serve 85% before they can be released for good behavior, not 80%.
Doesn’t sound like a big difference but on a 10 year sentence, that’s an extra 6 months from 80%.
BlueJammers says
In such cases as this one, I never cease to be amazed how the drunk driver is the only driver who escapes injury. What an incredible waste of life.
Jonesy says
TYLER DUTTON IS RIGHT BEHIND HIM!
J says
Jody is my nephew. This is such a difficult time for all families involved. I pray for the victims families as well as Jody and our family. A loss of life, no matter the case, is always tough and heartbreaking.
Some of the comments posted are very heartbreaking to read.
Concerned Citizen says
@ J
Sorry people are hurting your feelings while 2 people are dead.
It doesn’t matter what kind of person Jody might or not might be. DUI is a choice. It’s not an accident or a lapse in judgement. People need to start taking accountability for their actions. He chose to drink and drive and it ultimately cost 2 people their lives. What a selfish act.
He deserves a lot more prison time than what he got. He just got lucky and had a lawyer who got him less. I hope the families of the victims sue him for everything he is worth although they will probably never be able to collect
I have little sympathy for DUI and prefer to save it for the victims. Maybe one day the legal system will start making criminals pay for their actions.
.
J says
Read my post again. I made no mention of what kind of person he is because it isn’t pertinent.
I didn’t ask for your sympathy, nor do i want or expect it.
I made a general statement about how difficult it is for ALL families. My heart breaks for them and the loss they are feeling.