Gates sentenced to 30 years for killing Cedar Rapids cab driver

Before her sentencing today, Connie Gates said she would take back what she did if she could.

Gates, 36, of Cedar Rapids, will spend 30 years of the second half of her life behind bars for driving under the influence of drugs March 25 and crashing into a Yellow Cab. The cab's driver, Richard Dankert, 76, of Cedar Rapids, was killed in the crash.

Gates was sentenced to 30 years in prison for homicide by vehicle while under the influence of drugs, homicide by vehicle while attempting to elude, operating a vehicle without owner's consent and possession of a controlled substance.

Sixth Judicial District Judge David Remley also ordered Gates to pay $150,000 in victim's restitution to Richard Dankert's estate and $2,039 to the crime victim's restitution fund.

Dankert doesn't have any family members who live in the area, so no victim impact statements were given in court. His daughter did submit a written statement for the court file. She said she had suffered a great loss and asked the court to impose the maximum sentence.

During the trial, a police videotape of the March 25 chase was shown to jurors in which Gates, driving a stolen car, fled from police, ran through red lights and rammed Dankert's cab. Police officers told jurors Gates' car was traveling up to 100 mph on Interstate 380 before exiting onto Wilson Avenue SW and crashing into the cab.

Gates admitted in a police interview that she smoked crack cocaine for two days and smoked crack and marijuana the night of the crash.

The defense claimed Dankert's death wasn't Gates fault, but was just an accident.