ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, September 10, 1996 TAG: 9609100054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: STAFFORD
A man who crashed his car last year and killed a 15-year-old passenger was sentenced Monday to 18 months.
A jury convicted Chad Etka, 20, of involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving in July.
Judge William Plummer ordered Etka to spend six months in jail and another year in prison for the June 1995 crash that killed Jamie Lynn Robbins.
Plummer also suspended Etka's driver's license for five years after he is freed from prison.
Prosecutors said Etka appeared more concerned about his wrecked 1986 Mustang than about the girl's death. Etka's former boss, Walter Manning, testified at the sentencing hearing that Etka showed co-workers photos of the car a couple of days after the accident.
``I was a little disturbed by that,'' Manning testified. He said he told Etka, ```You realize a life has been lost.' He just sort of shrugged it off.''
``I think he's sorry that he's going to jail and he's sorry he wrecked his car,'' said Jamie's father, Mark Robbins, who has filed a $4 million lawsuit against Etka.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB