Teen who killed another driver while trying to commit suicide in car crash sentenced to 6 years

LEBANON, Ore. -- A teenage girl who was trying to commit suicide when she crashed head-on into another car, killing the driver, was sentenced Wednesday to six years in prison.

KPTV in Portland said Kathryn Schilz, who was 17 at the time of the crash, was driving a Mitsubishi when she crossed the center line of Airport Road and hit a Subaru head-on in April. The driver of the Outback, Tonya Thompson, 40, of Lebanon, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Schilz, who was trapped in her car, was rescued by firefighters and hospitalized with serious injuries.

Deputies said Schilz was trying to take her own life in the crash and witnesses described Schilz as deliberately steering into oncoming traffic, KPTV reported.

Schilz, who is now 18, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 75 months in prison and her license was permanently revoked.