VACHERIE — Cory Newton, 28, of Prarieville, pled guilty as charged to vehicular homicide last week, more than four years after a fatal St. James Parish crash claimed the life of 25-year-old Brittany Harris of Vacherie.

On March 8, 2015, troopers with Louisiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash near the intersection of Highway 3125 and Highway 3213 in St. James Parish.

Through investigation, troopers determined Newton was traveling southbound on Highway 3125 and approaching Highway 3213 in a 2008 Nissan Altima at the time of the accident.

According to State Police, Newton ignored a red light signal and proceeded through the intersection, where his vehicle struck a 2007 Dodge Charger driven by Harris.

The Dodge Charger struck a utility pole as a result of the collision and eventually came to rest on the side of Highway 3213.

Witnesses observed Newton walk away from the scene immediately following the collision, according to the Ascension Parish Clerk of Court.

Authorities located him shortly after and transported back to the scene.

Troopers detected a strong alcoholic odor on Newton.

He agreed to submit to a series of standardized field sobriety tests, which he did poorly on, according to police.

Tests indicated his blood alcohol concentration was more than .15 percent.

Newton was booked into the St. James Parish Detention Center on multiple traffic violations in addition to vehicular homicide.

Newton was recently sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.

Five years of the sentence are to be served without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence, and the remaining five years are to be suspended, according to Clerk of Court public information officer Tyler Cavalier.

Upon release from incarceration, the defendant is to be placed on five years supervised probation.

Judge Jessie Leblanc delivered the sentence.