RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - Christopher Sessoms plead guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Felony Hit and Run in a Richmond courtroom Tuesday morning. A charge of Reckless Driving against him was dropped.
The North Carolina man was driving on Interstate 195 in September 2011, when he speed past several cars, swerved in front one and slammed on the brakes. The car ran into the back of Sessoms's truck. Prosecutors said Sessoms and the driver of the other car, Christopher Lee Fisher, continued to drive aggressively with one another. Fisher's car eventually crashed and Fisher later died as a result of the wreck.
"It's a tragedy, but frankly had calmer heads prevailed in either car we wouldn't be here today," said defense attorney William Linka. "It's horrible for Mr. Fisher's family and Mr. Sessoms has expressed that at every opportunity. I think that's part of what went into his guilty plea today."
"We are grateful to those who stopped to help Chris after the accident and the witnesses that told the story of what took place," said Fisher's family in a statement following Tuesday's hearing. "Nothing will bring Chris back to us, but we are relived that Mr. Sessoms has taken responsibility for his actions."
Sessoms faces up to 20 years in prison when he is formally sentenced in a hearing scheduled for July 11, 2012.
