INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – Twenty-year-old Curtis Mertensmeyer of Mission Hills was sentenced Friday for the hit and run crash that killed 25-year-old Daniel Riemann.
Mertensmeyer was sentenced to five years in prison, including 120 days of shock time. That means, depending on Mertensmeyer's behavior, he could be released after four months and put on probation.
Mertensmeyer admitted he was drunk and speeding when he hit Riemann on Ward Parkway on May 11. Riemann had wandered away from a party when he was struck down.
Investigators say Mertensmeyer drove away, abandoned his car at Loose Park and didn't surrender to police until days later.
About 80 people packed the court room in Independence for Friday's sentencing. After a series of victim impact statements, Mertensmeyer gave a statement saying he was extremely sorry and wishes he could turn back time.
