[February 29, 2008, 11:35 am]

"Man Gets 9 Years For Crash That Killed TSU Student"


A Mexican national will serve nine years in jail and then be deported for the 2007 death of a Tennessee State University student.

Victor Benitez, 24, pleaded guilty Thursday to vehicular homicide.

He admitted to causing the crash at the intersection of Old Hickory Boulevard and Nolensville Road in south Nashville that killed Joycelyn Gardiner last June.

Gardiner, 22, was a member of TSU’s track team and was supposed to graduate this year.

Friends and family said she was a criminal justice major and wanted to go to law school.

Benitez was sentenced to nine years in prison.

He also had a hold placed on him by ICE, which means he will up for deportation after serving his jail time.

http://wkrn.com/nashville/news/man-gets ... 136415.htm