Jackson – Pioneer resident Kerry Lynn Cook, 45, was sentenced to state prison Tuesday for 16 years and 4 months after violations of probation for a previous conviction of vehicular manslaughter, according to a release from Amador County District Attorney Todd Riebe. The initial incident took place on April 28, 2004. According to reports from the California Highway Patrol, Cook, then 39, was travelling westbound on Highway 88 when she collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Amador school teacher Suzette Arnese. It was later discovered that Cook had drifted into oncoming traffic while under the influence of prescription medications. Cook, who suffered a fractured leg, was flown via air ambulance to the University of California, Davis, Medical Center and subsequently listed in fair condition. Her five-year-old daughter was also in the vehicle and survived the crash. Arnese, who died shortly after the crash, was popular and well-known throughout the community. She taught English at Jackson Junior High school for 26 years. After pleading guilty, Cook was sentenced to 13 years and 8 months in state prison, but her sentence was suspended and she served only a year in county jail and was placed on probation. Cook was arrested again on June 18, 2009 in Sonora for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. She again pled guilty, this time for the transportation of a controlled substance and felony DUI, as well as admitting to a prior strike under California’s Three Strikes law. Amador’s Probation Department filed a revocation of Cook’s probation and Cook admitted in court that she had once again violated the law. According to Riebe, Chief Deputy District Attorney Melinda Aiello told Amador County Superior Court Judge Susan Harlan on Wednesday that Cook had “blown her opportunity to change her criminal behavior and, to protect the public…requested that Judge Harlan lift the suspension and sentence Cook to the maximum sentence allowed. Riebe said Cook sat “impassively with her attorney.” Arnese’s twin sister read a poem written by Arnese and reminded the court of the “positive impact that her sister had in shaping the lives of so many people.” Judge Harlan said the only good thing resulting from this matter was that Cook will be taken off the streets for a long time. Harlan lifted the original prison sentence suspension and re-sentenced Cook on her convictions in Sonora, resulting in 16 years and 4 months in prison. Cook must serve 85 percent of that sentence before she is eligible for parole. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.