Local

Widow hugs woman who killed her husband in court

ATLANTA — Only Channel 2 Action News was there when a widow hugged the woman who killed her husband.
 
Glen Walker died in November 2011.
 
Police say Tamara Matthews was behind the wheel of an out-of-control minivan that slammed into the Walker family car on Flat Shoals Road in south Fulton County.
 
Walker was driving and his wife, Sandra, and their two kids were in the car.  
 
Matthews' 16-year-old son died in the crash, Sandra Walker suffered a life-altering brain injury and her husband died days later.
 
On Thursday, nearly 2½ years after the accident, Matthews entered a plea to misdemeanor counts of homicide by vehicle and failure to maintain lane.
 
A judge sentenced Matthews to 36 months' probation and 500 hours of community service.
 
During a victim-impact statement, Sandra Walker shed tears as she told Matthews she forgives her.  When the court proceedings ended, Walker hugged Matthews.
 
Channel 2's Erica Byfield spoke to Walker afterwards.
 
"I know she is going through as much pain as I am feeling. I wanted her to know that I forgive her for what she did," Walker said.
 
Earlier, Matthews told the court and the Walker family she was sorry.
 
The judge told Matthews her community service should include acts that honor the lives of her son and Glen Walker.