A woman pleads guilty to vehicular homicide in the death of her young mother

LEBANON, TN. — A woman was crushed to death by a drunk driver who was speeding.

The fatal incident in Lebanon’s central square has shocked and angered the public as the DUI suspect spent more than two years on bail.

But that will soon change.

It was a terrible scene. A mother and child collided at a roundabout in Lebanon.

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The young mother died.

Now, almost three years later, justice has come to the family.

Ashley Bailey, 27, and her three-year-old son were driving in daytime traffic in the square when an SUV crashed into their car at speed.

The baby survived, but Ashley was fatally injured. Her husband, Larry, spoke about the loss just a few days later:

“Broken, lost, empty. Like I’m in a bad dream and can’t wake up,” he said.

Police arrested 71-year-old Sandra Lee Strickland for intoxication manslaughter.

She posted a $250,000 bond and has remained free for the past two and a half years.

Larry spent this time at each court hearing, taking care of his young son.

Six days after the trial, which finally began last week, Strickland saw the evidence against her and pleaded guilty.

Larry says she never showed any remorse.

“She said she did it and I’m going to jail. We wanted Esheli to take justice away from us,” he shared.

Strickland, a first-time offender, likely faces eight years in prison with parole in just two and a half years.

“We have justice, and that’s important,” Larry said.

But that doesn’t mean Larry likes him.

This is the law, and he agreed to the request, so there can be no appeals.

But for him, the sentence does not fit the crime.

“Ashley got a life sentence. She can’t watch her son grow up. I can’t grow old with my wife,” he said. “After Ashley died, I told people that a part of me died that day too.”

Strickland will appear before a judge again on Dec. 10 for sentencing.

The judge will consider a sentence of eight to twelve years.

Remember: Eligibility for parole does not necessarily mean that the parole board will grant it.

And Larry Bailey plans to attend every hearing to speak out.

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