A Nebraska mother, Rachel Bickerstaff, was sentenced this week after driving drunk and causing a deadly crash that killed her three young children and another driver.
Despite showing remorse during her hearing, Bickerstaff is likely to spend the rest of her life in prison, with a sentence that could last up to 180 years.
The Tragic Crash
The fatal crash occurred on September 27, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska, when Bickerstaff was driving her car at speeds reaching 142 mph—more than five times the speed limit.
While driving with a blood alcohol level of .216, nearly three times the legal limit, she ran a red light and collided with Michael Sales, a 70-year-old man returning home from work.
In addition to killing Sales, Bickerstaff also tragically took the lives of her three children, aged 5 years, 18 months, and just 11 days old. Investigators noted the severity of the crash, which resulted in lasting trauma for the first responders who witnessed the aftermath.
Emotional Impact on the Victims’ Families
During the sentencing hearing, Laura Sales, the daughter of Michael Sales, tearfully described the pain of learning that her father had died in such a violent and sudden way. “It felt like my soul had left my body,” she said, recounting the devastating moment when she found out her father was dead.
The violence of the crash left her family without the chance to say goodbye, and they were only given his ashes, which added to the grief.
Sales, who spoke in court, asked the judge to deliver a sentence that would prevent another family from suffering a similar fate. “I speak because my dad can’t be. I ask this court — I beg this court — to deliver a sentence that reflects the weight of what was taken from us,” she said.
Bickerstaff’s Sentencing
Rachel Bickerstaff, now 34, was charged with four counts of motor vehicle homicide after pleading “no contest” to the charges. The judge sentenced her to a maximum of 180 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 70 years.
Bickerstaff, who has a prior DUI conviction, expressed regret during the hearing, saying, “I wish I could take it back… I would trade my life for all the life lost.”
Her defense attorney cited her difficult childhood, which involved abuse and substance abuse from a young age, as a factor contributing to her actions. Despite this, Judge Molly Keane emphasized the seriousness of the case and the likelihood of Bickerstaff reoffending, stating, “It is difficult to imagine a case with worse facts.”
The tragic crash caused by Rachel Bickerstaff’s reckless actions left an indelible mark on the families affected. The sentencing serves as a harsh reminder of the devastating consequences of driving under the influence, particularly when it results in the loss of innocent lives.
Bickerstaff’s remorseful words cannot undo the trauma, but her lengthy prison sentence will ensure that she faces the full consequences of her actions.
