Beaver County woman sentenced to prison in crash that killed Butler Eagle press operator
A 27-year-old Fombell woman was sentenced Thursday, Aug. 21, for causing a May 2023 drunken driving crash that claimed the life of a Butler Eagle press operator who was driving home after work less two weeks before he planned to retire.
Before Kassandra M. Clyde was sentenced in Butler County Common Pleas Court to serve a mandatory sentence of 3 to 10 years in state prison related to the death of 65-year-old James Barge of New Castle, she wept while facing Barge’s family.
Clyde apologized and said she wished is was her that died instead of Barge.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. She said she thinks about Barge’s family everyday and apologized for the pain and heartbreak she caused.
“I wish I could take it back,” Clyde said.
The sentence was set in a plea agreement reached in June when Clyde pleaded guilty to a felony charge of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and DUI, a misdemeanor. The DUI charge merged with the homicide by vehicle charge for sentencing purposes. She was fined $1,000.
Barge was driving home from work on May 4 traveling west on Route 422 in Franklin Township when Clyde, who was driving east, crossed the center line and a turning lane, and struck Barge’s vehicle at 1:15 a.m.
The crash occurred two days after Clyde requested expungement of a previous DUI conviction. She applied for early termination from the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program on April 18 and it was granted April 19. Her penalty was considered satisfied in February after she completed community service that consisted of litter pick up in November 2022. She submitted a petition for expungement on May 2, 2023.
Barge’s sisters Debbie McMillin and Kathy Kimmel, who were among many family and friends of Barge’s to attended the sentencing hearing, told the court that Barge was a deeply religious man with a sense of humor who loved his family, and will be missed. His wife Lisa Barge attended the hearing, but didn’t speak and declined to comment afterward. She submitted a written victim impact statement.
Kimmel said Barge is two years older than her and he was excited about his upcoming retirement after working hard throughout his life. He taught Sunday school and sang solos at his church, and “his savior welcomed him home” after the crash.
“He was loved by everyone who knew him,” Kimmel said. “I loved him.”
She said she lives out of state and didn’t see him often, but is glad she saw him a few weeks before the crash.
McMillin said she is four years older than Barge, and they used to pick on Debbie when they were kids.
She said Barge was small when he was young, and she recalled getting into fist fights defending him. He grew up, had a wonderful marriage and two children, and two grandchildren, but he died before he met one of the grandchildren, she said.
McMillin said Barge would want his family to forgive Clyde and they are trying. Another family member said God loves Clyde and has a plan for her.
When Clyde spoke, she said she has heard good things about Barge and wished “it was me instead of him.”
Clyde’s attorney Michael Zunder also faced Barge’s family and spoke on her behalf. He reiterated that she was devastated by his death and wished it was her that died.
“She will never let that go. It will never leave her mind,” Zunder said.
But, he said she made a selfish decision to drink and drive the night of the crash.
Zunder said Clyde wanted to resolve the case shortly after the crash, but he sought the delays.
Before imposing the sentence, Judge Timothy McCune said people talk about “closure” after cases like this, but called the term a terrible and inappropriate word to use.
“If I could do more to make you feel better, I would,” McCune said.
Deputy sheriffs took Clyde from the courtroom in handcuffs after the hearing. Several family members cried and hugged her before she was led away.
