TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Willis Trueblood was sentenced to 8 years in prison on Tuesday after a deadly hit-and-run in 2024 that killed a Florida State University student. Trueblood’s license was also suspended.
The student killed in the crash was 20-year-old Ellie Sims. The crash happened near the intersection of Lorene and Pensacola Street, which students described as always being busy.
Sims’ family spoke at Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.
Trueblood entered an open plea in court in January and could have faced up to 30 years in prison. The sentencing guideline suggested a 12-year sentence, but the judge granted a downward departure and sentenced Trueblood to 8 years in state prison, according to court records.
Tallahassee Police Department announced Tuesday it arrested 18-year-old Willis Trueblood Jr. for leaving the scene of the fatal hit-and-run.(Leon County Sheriff’s Office)
Court records at the time describe Trueblood being scared and sick after the crash, saying he left the scene because he panicked.
Students and parents laid flowers and notes at the site of the crash in the days that followed the deadly hit-and-run.
One mom, whos child knew Sims, left an image of a penguin because she know Sims liked them.(WCTV)
An online petition to add a traffic light to the intersection near West Pensacola and Lorene Streets gained over 26,000 signatures after Sims’ death.
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