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Woman to spend 14 years in prison after fatal head-on collision

CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A woman in Catawba County will spend the next 14 years behind bars for her part in a deadly head-on crash.

Before taking the plea deal, April Childers spoke to the family of the man she killed.

That father had to stop several times while talking about his son and that DWI crash.

He spoke for about 20 minutes and then walked across the courtroom toward the woman accused of killing his son.

"I have a gift for you. And I would seriously hope that you accept it," said the victim's father, David Britt.

With a Bible in his hand, David Britt walked across the courtroom hoping to give it to April Childers. She stood before a judge and pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and aggravated assault in the death of Ashley Britt. His father stood feet from his son's photo in court Tuesday.

"Her actions have proven that she will kill again if allowed back on the highways," Britt said.

The crash that happened on Highway 127 in southeast Hickory in April 2012 followed three other DWI convictions for Childers. Prosecutors say that before the crash that killed Britt, Childers took meth and a sleep aid, causing her to fall asleep at the wheel.

"If I could take his place and bring Ashley back, God knows I would. But I'm asking from you to please forgive me," Childers said.

Britt's father made it clear that would not happen Tuesday.

"One day, God will give me the strength to forgive you. But today is not that day," he said.

Before leaving the courtroom, reporter Dave Faherty could see Childers reach for the Bible.

This case could have easily gone to trial. Monday afternoon, jury selection had begun when Childers decided to plead guilty and stuck to that plea despite the judge explaining she could face a lengthy prison sentence.