A woman involved in the January 6th Capitol riot, Emily Hernandez, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for causing a fatal crash while driving drunk on the wrong side of the highway. The crash, which occurred on January 5, 2022, resulted in the death of 32-year-old Victoria Wilson and left her husband, Ryan E. Wilson, severely injured.
Hernandez, 25, was driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of 0.20%, more than double the legal limit, when she collided with the Wilsons’ vehicle. The crash took place around 7 p.m. on I-44, with Hernandez’s car striking the Wilsons’ car in the eastbound lane. Victoria Wilson was killed instantly, and Ryan Wilson, who suffered significant injuries, was left unable to wake his wife due to the airbags.
During her sentencing, Hernandez expressed deep remorse for her actions. “What I did was ungodly, and I will live with that shame for the rest of my life,” she stated. “I am sorry for what I did, and if I could take it all back, I would.” Despite her apology, the Wilson family conveyed their feelings of profound loss. Victoria Wilson’s mother, Tonie Donaldson, said the justice served could never fill the void left by her daughter’s death. “Nothing will bring her back,” she said. “It was some relief to be able to turn and look her in her eyes and tell her how much harm she had really done to us… that’s a choice she made, she has to live with it.”
Hernandez’s sentencing followed her guilty plea for the crash, which included a 10-year sentence for the death of Victoria Wilson and another seven-year sentence for injuring her husband, with both sentences being served concurrently. The crash occurred just days before Hernandez was due to plead guilty to charges related to her participation in the Capitol riot. On January 6, 2021, Hernandez was seen inside the Capitol building, having stolen a sign from Nancy Pelosi’s office, and was photographed grinning as she held a fragment of the sign.
She was later charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, but the more serious charges, such as disorderly conduct and theft, were dropped as part of a plea deal. Hernandez was given a 30-day jail sentence for her actions on January 6. A week before her sentencing for the crash, President Donald Trump pardoned Hernandez, along with several other individuals involved in the Capitol attack, on his final day in office. However, her pardon did not prevent the legal consequences related to her deadly DUI crash.
The tragic incident highlights the serious consequences of drunk driving and the ripple effects it has on both the victims and their families. Despite her previous pardon, Hernandez’s actions behind the wheel resulted in the irreversible loss of life and a permanent impact on the Wilson family. Hernandez’s case serves as a reminder of the complexities of justice and accountability, as her involvement in the Capitol riot was overshadowed by the fatal crash she caused.
