A 39-year-old Sweet Home man whose youngest son died in a car crash promised Monday to share the story of his mistake -- to race a train with his three children in the vehicle -- with driver's education programs as a condition of his probation for misdemeanor negligent homicide.
Corey Sucedric May pleaded guilty to the charge, reduced from felony manslaughter, three days past the first anniversary of the July 3, 2014, collision that killed Floyd Sucedric May less than three weeks before his 10th birthday.
Corey May's other two children, Spencer, now 15, and Aaliyah, now 12, were also in the 2012 Chrysler 300 driven by their father. The girl suffered a leg injury in the crash, but prosecutors dropped a misdemeanor battery charge related to her injuries as part of May's agreement to plead guilty to the negligent homicide charge.
According to crash reports, May was westbound on Harper Road/Arkansas 365 when he tried to cross the tracks ahead of the northbound Union Pacific train despite the crossing's lights and bells. The family lives nearby on Gates Lane.
The train hit the driver side and pushed the car down the track. Floyd was sitting in the right side of the back seat. May was thought to be taking the children to a summer day camp.
Spencer, who suffered minor injuries, was in the front passenger seat, and Aaliyah was in the rear passenger seat behind her father, the Pulaski County sheriff's office reported. She and Corey May had to be cut out of the crushed car, and the girl had to be airlifted for treatment.
A cadre of deputies, paramedics and firefighters had to carry Corey May about half a mile over rocks and rails to get him to an ambulance, according to sheriff's officials.
He was still feeling the effects of the crash Monday. He had to use a walker, resting on the frame continually during the plea hearing, and appeared emotional during the proceedings before Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen.
Questioned by the judge about what he had done wrong and asked to affirm he was pleading guilty because he was guilty, he appeared to be overwhelmed to the point of becoming incoherent, with the judge recessing the proceeding for May to compose himself.
Called up again before the judge after consulting with his lawyer, May was able to stammer out that he "was negligent. I wasn't aware the train was coming," and wiped tears from his eyes.
The judge praised deputy prosecutor Barbara Marianni and defense attorney Rob Berry for crafting the sentence, which requires him to spend at least 20 hours speaking with traffic safety groups for the next year. Griffen told May that by sharing his story he could perhaps save others from undergoing the pain and heartbreak he and his family have suffered.
"You do not need prison in order to get punishment for what you have gone through," the judge said, urging May to be a teacher. "No prison cell is going to alter other people that this conduct is prohibited. You may have a redeeming influence on others about traffic safety at railroad crossings."
The terms of his sentence beyond speaking about crossing safety include a year on probation and a $1,000 fine. Court files show Union Pacific denied any liability for the crash but paid the family a $40,000 settlement: $20,000 for Corey May, $10,000 for his wife, Ghia May, and $10,000 for the children.
Metro on 07/07/2015