JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Six moths after her son's death, Angela Harper was sentenced to spend nine years in prison for DUI manslaughter in the crash that killed the 13-year-old boy.

Investigators arrested Harper in May, saying the mother was intoxicated when she lost control of her car on Interstate 295 in April. Her son, Jesse Harper, and four other teenagers were in the car at the time of the crash.

Harper pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter.

After learning about Harper's sentence, another mother whose two daughters were involved in the crash spoke out in Harper's defense.

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said Harper's punishment doesn't fit the crime.

"Something inside of me said I have to forgive her. I have to forgive her because she lost her son," the woman said.

Investigators said Harper lost control of her car while traveling at 100 mph. They said five people were thrown from the vehicle, including Harper's son, Jesse.

"We're all suffering. We miss Jesse terribly. He was a good kid, but to think of what she's going through, it just breaks my heart, too," said the mother of two of the other victims involved in the crash.

Prosecutors said they fought hard for the case based on the severity of the situation. Harper had a blood-alcohol level of .11, she was speeding, there were too many people in the vehicle and she was the only one wearing a seat belt, they said.

"We felt it was significant and important enough to go ahead and prosecute this case aggressively to try to let people know that we treat this just as seriously as if she had killed a complete stranger," said Assistant State Attorney Mark Borello.

Nonetheless, the other mother said Harper deserves to be punished because drinking and driving is wrong, but she said nine years is too long. She said she believes Harper is already serving a life sentence knowing her actions killed her son.

"I really wish and pray that she gets the help she needs," she said.

According to state law, Harper is required to serve at least 85 percent of her nine year sentence. Harper's driver's license was permanently revoked.