A 56-year-old Tulsa woman will spend the better part of her golden years behind bars after agreeing to a plea deal on Wednesday in Sebastian County Circuit Court over a negligent homicide that occurred by vehicle in 2020 .
According to court records, 56-year-old Rhonda Jenel Walker, who was responsible for the death of a Fort Smith bicyclist on October 22, 2020, received a 20-year imposed sentence with an additional 10-years suspended in the court actions Wednesday morning in Fort Smith.
Police say that Walker was responsible for the death of Khoanh Van Le, 70, of Fort Smith after the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro she was driving eastboundton North o Street on the date of the accident struck a second vehicle, pushing it into a bicycle piloted by Le at the intersection of North 31st Street. Le was life-flighted to UAMS in Little Rock where he died five days later from his injuries.
A second victim Thanh Nguyen,64, also of Fort Smith was also injured in the accident and taken to a local hospital.
On the day of the accident, Walker was arrested on numerous counts by the Fort Smith Police Department including felon in possession of a firearm, driving while intoxicated, possession of a controlled substance, and refusal to submit to a chemical test. Her charges were amended to include the negligent homicide on October 27, 2020 when Le succumbed to his injuries.
Walker has been in prison since February when she was given a 20-year sentence on the firearm charges. She was transferred to the McPherson Unit in Newport Arkansas at that time and was returned to Fort Smith on April 10 for the court proceedings on Wednesday,
Her 20-year sentence was set to to run concurrent with the previously imposed sentence on the weapons charge.
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