Family forgives woman convicted in fatal crash

NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) — Family members of a great-grandmother killed by a drunken driver hugged the woman convicted in the 2009 crash and offered forgiveness.

Lisette Oblitas-Cruz was sentenced to 4½ years in prison on Thursday for misconduct with a motor vehicle and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Family of Phyllis Porter filed into New London Superior Court and, with the permission of the judge, approached Oblitas-Cruz.

Porter, a 77-year-old businesswoman and civic activist, was killed in the September 2009 crash that state police say was caused by Oblitas-Cruz.

The Day of New London reports that the 31-year-old Oblitas-Cruz, of Port Chester, N.Y., said she feels sorrow every day for her actions and prays for forgiveness.

She said part of her died during the accident and that she will never be the same.