South Charleston man sentenced in crash that killed 20-year-old

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

A South Charleston man who drove while impaired on Interstate 70 and caused a crash that killed a 20-year-old New York resident was sentenced Monday to the maximum prison term allowed by law.

Marc Terrell, 37, was sentenced to be in prison for at least 13½ years — topping out at 17½ years.

In addition, Clark County Common Pleas Court Judge Douglas Rastatter also permanently suspended his driver’s license.

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Earlier this year, Terrell pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault and OVI in connection with a July 2 crash on Interstate 70 that killed 20-year-old Matthew “Billy” Eskeli IV, of Falconer, New York.

An Ohio State Highway Patrol investigation says that Terrell was driving about 135 mph and his blood alcohol concentration was more than three times Ohio’s legal driving limit.

Zack Cooper, 21, was a passenger in Eskeli’s vehicle and was taken to Miami Valley Hospital after the crash with serious injuries.

Benjamin Cooper, 22, was also a passenger in the Ford Focus and was taken to Springfield Regional Hospital for precautionary reasons.

The victims’ families and the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office asked that Terrell face the maximum punishment for what happened.

Eskeli’s family released a statement after the sentence that says in part, “While there is no punishment given to Marc Terrell that will bring Billy back, we are pleased that Mr. Terrell received the maximum sentence allowable by Ohio law.”

It continues on to say, “There is always going to be a gaping hole in our hearts, we know what Billy would want is for us to make him proud in the way we live our everyday lives. Be humble and be kind, and think of Billy.”

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