FOND DU LAC COUNTY (NBC 26) — An Appleton resident was sentenced to 20 years behind bars for a drunk driving crash that killed two people.
During a hearing Wednesday in Fond du Lac County court, Samuel J. Coppersmith was sentenced to 20 years of initial confinement and 7 years extended supervision with 3 years of consecutive probation.
According to Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric J. Toney, the total sentence is 20 years of initial prison confinement followed by 10 years of supervision.
The district attorney said the crash happened July 19, 2020 when Coppersmith was driving on Interstate 41 northbound through Fond du Lac County. The D.A. said Coppersmith lost control of the vehicle, resulting in a rollover crash. The crash killed two passengers and caused significant injuries to two other passengers, according to District Attorney Toney.
The District Attorney said in a statement that two blood tests taken after the crash showed Coppersmith had a high blood alcohol concentration past the legal limit. The blood results also showed the defendant's blood contained marijuana.
"This was a horrific crash in which lives are forever changed based on the actions of this defendant to drink, use marijuana, and get behind the wheel of a vehicle," District Attorney Toney stated. "This sentence will not bring back those that were killed or take away the injuries and anguish from the victims and their families but I hope it serves as a strong deterrent and message not to drink or use drugs and get behind the wheel of a vehicle.”
While previous reports had listed Coppersmith as a man, the defendant was referred to as "she" during sentencing on Wednesday.
