HILLSDALE, Mich. — A man accused in a deadly drunk driving accident last year was sentenced on Monday to 4 years and 9 months in prison by Judge Michael Smith.
Seth Magda received the maximum sentence for a fatal crash where prosecutors said he was driving about ninety miles per hour and hit and killed 16-year-old Braxton Petrie on June 19, 2018.
Hillsdale County prosecutors added charges of second-degree murder, reckless driving causing death, and manslaughter with a vehicle against Magda of Jonesville.
He was originally charged with operating while intoxicated causing death.
In July a plea deal was arranged and Magda was allowed to plea "no contest" to a charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors dropped charges of second-degree murder, reckless driving causing death and voluntary manslaughter.
On June 19, 16-year-old Braxton Petrie was riding his bike on Mosherville Road in Hillsdale County.
It's played out on the 911 call, that vehicle came by surprise.
A person on the 911 call said, "No description, the headlights were out and they were driving like bats out of hell."
"He was flying down the road without his headlights on and that's when a car went by," Petrie's brother told FOX47.
Magda was arrested on June 20 for driving while intoxicated causing death. He was released on a $10,000 bond, pending trial.
"Honestly, I never thought that he'd be able to walk the streets after everything that I've learned. In my mind, that's a fail for somebody to do the things that he's done and still share the community with my children," said Kayla Hess, Braxton's cousin.
Magda violated his bond conditions when he was caught drinking on social media.
A photo from Hillsdale County Court Records shows Magda with a drink and a caption "big boy's first legal marg."
"He has no remorse, if I killed someone, I wouldn't be able to live with myself. I probably wouldn't even be able to leave my house," said Angie Petrie, Braxton's stepmother.
Magda is no stranger to the Hillsdale County justice system. He's got a rap sheet including minor in possession from 2015. That was followed by a speeding ticket, open alcohol in a vehicle, a second minor in possession charge, driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and failing to stop at a stop sign, all before he turned 20 years old.
"Why? Because of your poor choices, my son is gone, and it's hard to breathe the same air as him," said Ashley Wolcott, Braxton's mother.
Police said Magda, who was 20 at the time, was intoxicated.
The family also has a civil case pending against him.
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