A 19-year-old Columbiana County man was sentenced Monday in Judge Megan Bickerton's courtroom for his role in a deadly high-speed crash on state Route 154 between Negley and Rogers on Feb. 25, 2021, that claimed the life of his 15-year-old passenger, Angelica Perkins of Salem.

Corey M.S. Evans of Negley was sentenced to 9-to-12 years behind bars after being convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide and operating a vehicle under the influence. 

"It's not fair. Angelica didn't have to die that night," said Angelica's sister, Trewlea Perkins. "He took every ounce of happiness, every ounce of joy out of my life," she said.

"It's kind of hard to sink in, to think about the fact that she had 15 years on this earth," said Joseph Perkins, Angelica's brother.

Troopers say that neither Evans, nor Perkins were wearing seat belts when the Chevy Cavalier being driven by Evans, went off State Route 154 just west of Negley, striking a guardrail, a ditch, an embankment, and utility pole before overturning. Evans suffered minor injuries according to troopers.  Perkins was thrown from the car and died.

Evans apologized to the court and Perkins' family, however, the judge noted this was not the first time Evans had hurt someone in a car with excess speed. It was said the Evans car was speeding at more than 90 mph which led to the crash.

Judge Bickerton said that in 2018 Evans injured another 15-year-old in a crash that left the girl with loss of sight in one eye. 

The sentence Evans received was one year for the 2018 crash and 8 to 12 years for the crash that killed Perkins.

The judge also noted that Evans was driving under a suspended license when the second crash occurred, and suspended his driving privileges for life.