A Texas woman has been sentenced to seven years in prison after being convicted of killing a college student in a drunken-driving crash. Lynlee Pollis, 30, was sentenced on Wednesday for intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault related to a crash in September 2023 that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Southern Methodist University student Honor Wallace and caused serious injuries to her friend, Catherine 'CeCe' Solberg, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.
State District Judge Jennifer Balido ordered Pollis to serve 10 years of probation upon her release from prison, which includes a requirement to return to jail for 15 days each year. Some of these jail dates will coincide with the birthdays of the victims, Pollis' birthday, and the anniversary of the crash.
The sentencing followed approximately three hours of jury deliberations after a two-and-a-half-week trial. During the trial, Bobby Solberg, the father of the injured passenger, delivered a victim impact statement expressing frustration over the prolonged legal process. He stated, "You were so drunk and you wouldn’t admit it. You made us sit through this [trial] for three weeks. We’ve seen no personal accountability from you."
David Wallace, the father of the deceased student, also addressed Pollis in his statement, saying, "You took the most precious gift from us through your selfishness. Own it. Own what you did."
The incident occurred on September 24, 2023, when Wallace was driving her Volkswagen Jetta through a green light in Dallas. Pollis' Lexus SUV collided with her vehicle. Wallace was pronounced dead at the hospital, while Solberg, a passenger in the Jetta, sustained a shoulder injury and concussion, later diagnosed as a traumatic brain injury, according to The Dallas Morning News.
Testimony from prosecution experts indicated that Pollis was traveling at approximately 67 mph in a 35-mph zone and ran a red light that had been illuminated for at least five seconds. Pollis had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.294%, nearly four times the legal limit in Texas of 0.08%. Officers reported that Pollis exhibited signs of intoxication, including glassy eyes and slurred speech, when they interviewed her at the hospital. Pollis' defense attorneys argued for probation instead of prison, citing her lack of prior felony convictions. Defense attorney Scott Palmer described Pollis as a "good person who made a terrible decision."