An Eagle County woman was sentenced to 16 years in prison following a plea deal related to a fatal hit-and-run incident involving a cyclist.
Sidney Rayne Whitmarsh, 25, pleaded guilty to charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and vehicular homicide while under the influence. This plea was accepted in court on Wednesday.
As part of the agreement, prosecutors dismissed several other charges, including tampering with evidence and conspiracy. The incident involved the death of 43-year-old Mario Vildozola Romero, whose body was found on January 9 along an embankment off U.S. 6 in Edwards, two days after he was reported missing.
Crash investigators discovered parts of a fog lamp at the scene and linked a white Subaru Outback to Whitmarsh. Following the crash, she abruptly resigned from her job and was arrested in Arkansas in March 2024.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident as they gather further details.