A Marietta man was sentenced to 50 years in prison for a DUI crash that killed three people on their way to church in DeKalb County.
Marvin Lynch, 32, was convicted Friday of six counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of hit-and-run and driving under the influence in connection with the July 5, 2015, crash.
Authorities said Lynch stayed up all night drinking on the Fourth of July before getting behind the wheel of his Mercedes SUV and causing the fatal wreck. The victims included 67-year-old Vernon Hatley, his wife, 65-year-old Willie Mae Hatley, and their friend, 65-year-old Cora Rhodes Lyles.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
The Hatleys lived in North Carolina and were visiting Lyles, who lived in Stone Mountain. All three were on their way to the Sunday morning service at Saint Philip AME, AJC.com previously reported.
RELATED: Three killed in Sunday morning crash in DeKalb County
According to prosecutors, Lynch spent Independence Day weekend “drinking and partying all night” before slamming into the Nissan Maxima at the intersection of Marbut Road and Lithonia Industrial Boulevard in Lithonia.
The impact of the collision sent the car more than 90 feet into a nearby wooded area, ejecting Vernon Hatley, who was driving. All three victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
After the crash, Lynch attempted to steal the car of another motorist who stopped to help, authorities said. He was subdued by witnesses before trying to leave the scene on foot.
MORE: Cops: DeKalb DUI driver in triple fatality crash attempted to flee
Authorities said Lynch’s blood-alcohol level was still above the legal limit nearly six hours after the fatal crash.
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