YOUNGSTOWN Warren driver sent to prison for wreck that killed woman

The victim's family pushed for the maximum sentence of five years behind bars.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Warren mother was sentenced to two years in prison for causing a wreck that killed a 57-year-old North Benton woman.
Ann Creekmore, 34, had pleaded guilty July 19 in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court to aggravated vehicular homicide.
Assistant Prosecutor Jay Macejko said Creekmore, a nurse, was speeding home from her Akron job April 28, 2001, when her car struck the rear of one driven by Sue S. Gold.
Gold's car went to the right and flipped end-over-end several times.
"I really miss my wife," said Gold's husband, Michael. "If there's justice, then there are consequences for actions that harm others."
Gold's family pleaded with Judge James C. Evans to impose the maximum sentence of five years and suspend Creekmore's driver's license for the rest of her life.
"That is the only way she can minutely pay for what she's done," said Gold's son-in-law, John Anderson.
What defense said
Creekmore's lawyer, Charles Richards, asked for probation, arguing that the crash was accidental. He said Creekmore was tired from working a 12-hour shift and had fallen asleep.
She works two jobs to support her family, and going to prison would cause her to lose both jobs, Richards said.
"This was a pure accident," Richards said. "But for the fact that Mrs. Creekmore fell asleep at the wheel, this would not have happened. That was her transgression."
Police said Creekmore was headed east on Interstate 76, near the Bailey Road exit in Jackson Township, when she hit the back of Gold's vehicle.
Family members said Gold was going to a cousin's house in Pennsylvania to pick up a couch for her daughter. They don't believe the crash was an accident.
They pointed to the fact that Creekmore had been picked up for speeding about three months before the accident, in nearly the same spot. They also said reports indicated that Creekmore changed lanes to avoid hitting the back of a van and ended up hitting Gold's car.
"She was simply driving too fast to avoid the collision," said Gold's daughter, Rebecca Anderson.
Creekmore cried throughout the hearing and apologized to Gold's family before she was sentenced.
"I hope someday that they can forgive me," said Creekmore, the mother of 20-month-old twins.
Judge Evans said he will consider releasing Creekmore on shock probation after she serves at least 180 days in prison. He suspended her driver's license for three years and fined her $1,000.
He admonished Creekmore for continuing to drive at excessive speeds after receiving the speeding ticket in January 2001, and for getting behind the wheel if she was sleepy.
"The warning signs were there but you just kept going," he said.
bjackson@vindy.com