Driver in fatal 2010 bee crash gets year in jail

A truck driver who killed two women and a fetus in 2010 was shown mercy on Tuesday as a judge sentenced him to a year in jail and probation instead of 12 years in prison.

Jason Styrbicky, of Buffalo, Minn., was convicted of three counts of criminal vehicular homicide and careless driving in May.

Sentencing guidelines called for four years in prison for each death. But Judge Karen Asphaug listened to the pleas of Styrbicky's family, his attorney, a probation officer and even family members of one of the victims asking that he not be sent to prison.

Styrbicky, 38, accepted responsibility for the crash in Lakeville, which also caused the release of more than a million bees in another truck.

Asphaug gave him three consecutive four-year terms in prison, but then spared him the prison time in favor of probation and a year in jail. Probation can be up to 10 years.

Killed in the crash were Pamela Brinkhaus, 50, of Elko New Market; Kari Rasmussen, 24, of St. Anthony, and Rasmussen's 8-week-old fetus.

Only Todd Brinkhaus, Pamela's husband, addressed the court in person on Tuesday to make a victim impact statement before the sentence was pronounced.

He said he trusted the judge and would accept whatever judgment was handed down.

After the sentencing, Todd Brinkhaus was true to his word, telling reporters that he thought the sentence was just. "I believe he is remorseful," he said. "He didn't plan to do this. It was accidental. I'm happy with the verdict."

Asphaug said she believed that Styrbicky was remorseful and that the deaths weigh on him, as he and his family maintained to the court in letters.

Her decision was based partly on the fact that the Rasmussen family was not asking for Styrbicky to be sent to prison.

She also pointed out that Styrbicky "is everyman" and that the crash could have happened to anyone who isn't paying attention to the road.