MADISON, Wis. — A woman charged in the crash that killed Wisconsin Public Media director Gene Purcell was sentenced Friday to over two years in prison, online court records show.
Shawnicia Youmas, 33, of Madison was found guilty in February of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle. She was sentenced to two years and six months in prison followed by four years of extended supervision.
Youmas was charged following a July 27, 2021 crash along the westbound Beltline frontage road near Grandview Boulevard. Prosecutors said Youmas hit Purcell, who was on a motorcycle, before colliding with a utility pole causing electrical wires to fall down around the scene.
Purcell was taken to a hospital and died on July 31, 2021. Youmas was also hospitalized.
Woman charged in crash that killed Wisconsin Public Media director
A Madison woman is now facing a homicide charge for allegedly causing a crash in July that killed Wisconsin Public Media director Gene Purcell.
According to the complaint filed in the case, a witness said they saw Youmas run a stop sign before the crash. Crash data reportedly showed that Youmas’ vehicle was traveling at as much as 64.9 mph just 1.5 seconds before the crash.