JACKSON COUNTY, Miss. (WKRG) — A Vancleave, Miss., man has been sentenced to 22 years in prison and three years on post-release supervision after a crash led to his then-girlfriend’s death, according to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office.

36-year-old Michael Earl Grimes was sentenced after his drinking and driving decision led to the death of Christine Osborne on Nov. 12, 2022.

According to a DA’s office news release, deputies responded to Old Fork Bayou Road around 9:15 p.m. that Saturday after reports came in of Grimes parked in the middle of the road yelling and hitting Osborne inside of the car.

Before deputies arrived on the scene, Grimes sped off, lost control of the vehicle, and crashed into a ditch, leading the vehicle to become engulfed in flames.

“Good-Samaritans driving by at the time were able to pull [Grimes] from the vehicle. However, Christine was trapped in the vehicle and was unable to be saved,” read the release.

The release said that Grimes’ blood-alcohol level at the time was double the legal limit.