Man sentenced to prison in prom-night crash that killed teacher

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A former Lakeside High School student has been sentenced to prison in a prom-night crash that killed a Lakeside teacher.

According to the DeKalb County district attorney’s office, Ramiro Gerrardo Pedemonte, 20, pleaded guilty to first-degree vehicular homicide, reckless driving and three counts of serious injury by vehicle in the wreck that killed 33-year-old Leah O’Brien on April 25, 2015.

Pedemonte was traveling more than 100 mph when the rental car he was driving T-boned O’Brien’s car at the intersection of Ridley Circle in Decatur.

O’Brien was on her way to drop off her 8-year-old daughter Kori before chaperoning the prom.

She was trapped in her car and died at the scene. Kori was in a coma for 13 days after suffering a traumatic brain injury in the crash.

Pedemonte and his passenger, Zana McGrit, were also on their way to the Lakeside prom. Both suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Pedemonte was sentenced to 15 years in prison and he will also serve 15 years on probation when his prison sentence is complete.

Cox Media Group