FORT WORTH -- A man who killed a woman while running from police in a stolen semi truck pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges Wednesday and received a 45-year prison sentence.
James Craig Layland, 50, was attempting to flee the scene after a police officer attempted to question him about passing a counterfeit $100 bill at Terry's Food Mart in the 5200 block of Birchman Avenue.Layland plowed the stolen truck into an SUV with three people inside, killing Ming-Yueh Bixler, a passenger.Christopher Lawler, Bixler's son, said during his victim's impact statement Wednesday that his mother had four children and six grandchildren.She volunteered at a local hospice and was the backbone of the family, he said.Lawler encouraged Layland to help others in prison to try and make up for some of the destruction that he caused.On May 25, officer T. Shelton was attempting to question Layland in the parking lot of a convenience store when Layland took off in the stolen truck. Shelton jumped on the truck's running board and ordered him to stop, but Layland sped off and hit a parked car, knocking Shelton to the ground. The officer was not seriously injured.Police say Layland then drove about five blocks through an alley between Birchman and Calmont Avenues before hitting an SUV with Bixler and two other people inside and crashing into a garage.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
