MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. – A 19-year-old Macomb County woman tearfully apologized Monday to the man she critically injured in a hit-and-run.
"I cannot even begin to image the physical and mental pain that I've caused," Christina Sparkman said, addressing William Skwarczewski.
Sparkman was 17 when she hit Skwarczewski near the intersection of 21 Mile and Garfield Roads on March 4, 2014.
Police said Sparkman, who had been drinking, fled the scene, but later turned herself in.
She was charged as an adult and pleaded guilty to driving as a minor with any blood alcohol content and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Skwarczewski's mother, Sheila Skwarczewski, said her son will need constant care for the rest of his life to deal with the lingering effects of the injuries he suffered.
"He will never be the same," Sheila Skwarczewski said. "None of us want Christina in jail, but we want to know she is held accountable for her actions that night."
Sparkman said her instinct to flee the scene was out of "pure shock and fright" and that it was the biggest mistake of her life.
She was sentenced by Judge Mary Chrzanowski to three years of probation, and also under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which allows youth who plead guilty to a crime to be placed in prison or on probation without a conviction to avoid a criminal record.
"I just really wanted to make it clear that there really is no desire to punish her by any means, and this isn't' for me or anyone else to judge her here. I just want her to learn, to learn everything from this," William Skwarczewski told the court. "I want her to be able to take away from this so that she's ready for the rest of her life and she can help make a good impact on this world."
On top of probation, Sparkman will also have to complete 100 hours of community service, helping those affected by traumatic vehicle accidents. She also has to attend weekly substance abuse meetings, MADD meetings and submit to drug testing while on probation.
William told the court he was okay with Sparkman's ability to have a clean record under the HYTA program. Outside, he told Local 4 he got a second chance at life and she should, too.
--William Skwarczewski