Man who drove drunk through bus, killing one person and injuring another, sentenced to 10 years
"It's been a very hard healing process," said Foster's best friend,
"It also leads me to believe that you were led by a great man...," Grewing said of Foster.
Grewing sentenced Bjelland, a
Foster was killed in the
Foster, 48, was riding the bus home from work. Jackson, 20, was badly injured. He was riding the bus to go see his girlfriend.
Assistant
Bjelland pleaded guilty to the counts in December, and agreed to the statutory maximum sentences even though his low criminal history score and sentencing guidelines would have called for shorter terms, said his attorney,
Given a chance to address the court, Bjelland said, "I just appreciate the family being ... forgiving."
"It's been a tough journey," Jackson told the court of his recovery from a brain injury that required temporary removal of part of his skull. "I am headed back towards my life."
Foster's daughters,
"I love him and I forgive him," Brown said. "You have a long life ahead of you. This is your chance."
Bjelland's stepmother quietly wept in the courtroom as the family spoke. Jackson, Sims and others later hugged her as they exited the courtroom.
"I know that he's going to get out and do right," Sims told Bjelland's father,
"It was touching,"
"My dad would have forgave him," she said. "I don't want to live my life with hatred. It takes more effort to be angry than to forgive and live your life the way my dad wanted."
Foster has six children and seven grandchildren.
Jackson said he had reached the same conclusion without consulting the Foster family, whom he has since grown close to. He said he had no memory of the collision, and first recalled waking up in a hospital room in a panic not knowing what had occurred.
"I tried to get up and fell," he said of his first memory after the crash.
Jackson's attorney,
Jackson and Palmer said he has collected close to half-a-million dollars in medical bills, and that much of it will likely not be covered by insurance. The vehicle Bjelland was driving at the time was not insured.
Palmer said they're working with various insurance companies to see how much coverage Jackson will receive. Jackson said he continues to suffer memory loss and is sensitive to light and noise because of his brain injury. He also suffered a broken toe in the crash.
"Medically and physically, he's made a remarkable recovery," Palmer said.
Jackson, who lives and grew up in
"The recovery has been a process -- good days, bad days, in-between days," Jackson said. "It's a building block for me to forgive him."
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