AKRON, Ohio — An Akron woman, who pleaded guilty to causing a funeral procession crash that killed her son and nephew, learned her fate on Wednesday morning.
Summit County Court of Common Pleas Judge Alison Breaux sentenced Tynicka Allen to four years and nine months in prison during an emotional sentencing hearing.
3News streamed the full sentencing, which can be viewed below:
"There is no sentence that is right. Everyone who is impacted by this, I encourage them to take your words to heart and find some healing," said Breaux.
The Summit County Prosecutor's Office says 31-year-old Allen admitted to two counts each of aggravated vehicular homicide and endangering children, all third-degree felonies. As part of the deal, several other charges were dropped, including five second-degree felonies that could have meant more prison time in the event of a conviction.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for speeding. I was guilty of speeding... The accident was really an accident," said Allen during the sentencing.
The case dates back to Oct. 6, 2022, when Allen's Chrysler 200 collided with a Chevrolet Impala on South Arlington Street and 6th Avenue during the funeral procession. Her 12-year-old son Tymar and 6-year-old nephew Trevond Walker Jr. were hanging out the window before being ejected from the vehicle, with both eventually succumbing to their injuries.
Authorities claimed Allen was driving "recklessly," but it would be more than three months before she was arrested. Following a formal indictment by a grand jury, she initially pleaded not guilty and was released from custody after posting 10% of a $20,000 bond this past April.
"It is unfortunate that in the moment, for whatever reason, she chose to conduct herself in that fashion," Lieutenant Michael Miller of the Akron Police Department told 3News after Allen was charged. "But specifically, to allow one or more children to hang out the car and those types of things.”
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