Court hearings, sentences and apologies won't bring back Gerri Best.

But her twin sister, Carrie Kirkham, said all of those things help bring closure.

On Thursday, three years after the 28-year-old mother died, the trucker responsible for the crash faced a judge in Butler County Court.

Jose D. Lopez Pinedo, 33, pleaded no contest to homicide by vehicle, and was sentenced to serve 42 months of probation.

Assistant District Attorney Ben Simon told Judge William Shaffer there were issues with the evidence that prompted a lesser sentencing offer as part of a plea arrangement from prosecutors. Simon did not elaborate.

But Lopez Pinedo's defense attorney, Steven Misko, told the judge it's possible evidence that could have helped his client's defense was destroyed in the 16 months after the October 2012 collision, but before state police filed the charges.

Specifically, the 2000 Freightliner tractor-trailer Lopez Pinedo was driving as well as the connected trailer were released to the owner's insurance company, which totaled and scrapped both. Misko said there was never a chance for a defense expert to examine the vehicle, especially the brakes that were in question. Additionally, the truck's maintenance and inspection logs are missing.

“I'm not happy with that,” Kirkham said. “But I got want I wanted today ... (Lopez Pinedo) apologized.”

He issued his apology in the courtroom and in his native Spanish.

An interpreter then relayed to the judge and spectators what was said.

“I sincerely apologize ... I realize an apology doesn't bring back alive a dear one, but I sincerely hope they forgive me,” said Lopez Pinedo, who has since stopped driving.

The collision occurred Oct. 10, 2012. According to court records, Lopez Pinedo was driving a rig with faulty brakes toward Chattanooga, Tenn., with a load he'd picked up in Karns City.

Court records allege he ran a flashing red light and stop signs at a well-traveled intersection of Routes 268 and 68 known as Kepples Corner.

The front of the truck slammed into the passenger side of a Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Brian D. Altman Jr. of Rimersburg.

Best died at the scene. Altman's then 2-year-old son, Skylar, was seriously injured.

Altman, who attended court Thursday, said he and Best were heading to Butler to shop. The truck “came out of nowhere,” and the next thing he knew he was crawling into the backseat to help Skylar, whose skull was fractured.

“He almost died,” Altman said of his son.

Altman recalls his car horn was stuck on. And then he saw emergency responders pull a white sheet over his car with Best — his best friend — still inside.

Loving, compassionate and funny is how Joyce Kirkham wants people to recall her daughter.

Best worked with handicapped people at Turning Toward Self Reliance and left behind a daughter, now 14-year-old Charity.

Joyce Kirkham said Charity talks about the tragedy the least, but probably suffers the most.

“She's a teen now and going to dances and such. She doesn't have a mom there to help her with her hair or buy her a dress,” Joyce Kirkham said.

On important anniversaries, the family sends off balloons with messages to Best. And on the anniversary to her death her mom cooks chicken and dumplings.

“That was her favorite, and she only liked mine homemade,” Joyce Kirkham said. “We make her a plate and we give her a cigarette.”