MONTGOMERY CO. (WSLS 10) -- Kenneth Craft, 40, of Roanoke, was sentenced on Tuesday to serve more than eight years in prison and 10 years of supervised probation for a wrong-way crash on Interstate 81 that injured several people. He was also fined $7,500 and will pay over $10,000 in restitution to the victims.
The sentencing is the result of a traffic crash on I-81 at 3:30 p.m. on June 7, 2014. According to investigators, Craft got on the interstate the wrong way by going up the exit ramp at exit 132. He then drove his Ford Explorer south in the northbound lane at about 65 miles per hour. A few miles later, he crashed into a silver Lexus head on. The Lexus spun around and was hit head on again by a Subaru Forester that was traveling behind it. The Lexus was being driven by 17-year-old Connor McCauley. His 14-year-old sister, Drew McCauley, was in the passenger seat. The two were on their way home from swim practice at the Christiansburg Aquatic Center. The siblings had severe injuries. Connor had numerous broken bones, torn arteries in his heart, a ruptured spleen and a dislocated vertebrae. His sister had multiple lacerations and had to have her arm in a sling.
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The driver of the Subaru Forester was also hurt in the collision. Amy Shae, of Elliston, had two leg fractures, lacerations and bruising.
Craft had to be pulled from the wreckage after the vehicle he was driving tipped over and burst into flames against the guardrail. Authorities say bystanders had to pull him from the burning car.
Craft pleaded no contest in June to felony maiming and driving under the influence.