Jacksonville man sentenced for DUI manslaughter

Tirell Cross, 33, gets 12 years in prison, 3 years of probation

Chantel Jonson

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville man was sentenced this week for DUI manslaughter in the death of a 45-year-old Jacksonville mother of two.

Tirell Cross, 33, pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by three years of probation. His license will be permanently revoked, and he must complete 100 hours of community service.

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Cross was driving a Ford Expedition down Atlantic Boulevard last September when he struck a retaining wall and crossed over the concrete median into oncoming traffic. Cross struck Chantel Jonson's car almost head on, and she died at the scene.

Chantel Jonson

Jonson's husband, Glenn, spoke with Channel 4's Vic Micolucci last month about the ongoing case and his mission to keep drunken and dangerous drivers off the roads.

"I don't care if he (Cross) gets one day (behind bars) or 1,000 years, he can't bring my wife back," Glenn Jonson told Micolucci. "You know, my wife cannot come back."

Glenn said he is working closely with Compassionate Families Inc. and Mothers Against Drunk Driving to advocate for changes in the law that would keep habitual offenders off roadways.

Cross was driving on a revoked license at the time of the crash.