Woman Sentenced To Life For Killing 10-Year-Old Girl

Friday, November 16th 2007, 6:23 am

By: News On 6

McALESTER, Okla. (AP) -- A Pittsburg County judge has sentenced a Kiowa woman to life in prison for fatally striking a 10-year-old girl while speeding down a McAlester street last year. District Judge Thomas Bartheld heard statements from the family of fifth-grader Kristen Collins and from the parents of Jona Montgomery before pronouncing sentence.

A jury last month recommended the punishment after convicting Montgomery of second-degree murder and failure to give information at the scene of an accident involving death. Bartheld sentenced her to 10 years on the latter count.

Montgomery was driving a vehicle September 1st, 2006, down Polk Avenue when she hit several vehicles, a tree and two children just as a high school football game was ending. Kristen died and her brother, Aaron, was seriously injured.

Police estimated Montgomery's vehicle was traveling 56 M.P.H. when it hit the first vehicle.

According to reports, Montgomery ran from her vehicle after hitting the children.