A few weeks ago, on Wednesday, March 9, Richard Kyle Cruce, 52, of Madison, was put to trial and pronounced guilty of DUI Manslaughter. On Friday, April 8, Cruce was sentenced to 14 years at the Department of Corrections. In addition, Cruce is required to go through one year of probation and is required to complete 100 hours of community service. Cruce also faces several fines, including a $3,000 fine for court charges, a $50 fine for public defender application fee, a $100 fine for prosecution, a $1,000 fine, a $130 fine for DUI surcharge and a $15 alcohol fine.
Cruce is prohibited to consume alcohol or drugs and faces a lifetime driver's license revocation. It was also recommended that Cruce be housed close to Madison.
On August 12, 2014, Cruce collided with Jessica Pyles, 36, of Hahira, Ga. after drifting into Pyles' path on Hwy 145 near NE Daisy Street. Cruce was later transported to Madison County Memorial Hospital but Pyles was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 6:48 a.m.
Just months later, on Nov. 14, at 6:09 a.m., the Madison County Sheriff's Office issued an arrest warrant for Cruce under the charges of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Manslaughter.