JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The man charged in a deadly hit and run on I-10 back in May 2024 will spend the next five years in prison. Twenty-five year old Dante Lawrence was sentenced to prison Thursday after pleading guilty to leaving the scene of a crash involving death.

Lawrence killed 23-year-old Gavin Carter in May of 2024 while he was driving on Interstate 10 near McDuff Avenue. During Thursday’s hearing, a trooper with Florida Highway Patrol testified how Carter got out of his car on I-10 to help another man who was involved in a crash earlier that night. Lawrence hit both men with his car, killing Carter. He left the scene before troopers arrived.

Friends of Lawrence and members of his family spoke before the judge Thursday. They said Lawrence was remorseful and talked about the type of man he is.

“I just ask that you have mercy on my son. He’s a good boy, he’s a nice young man. He’s never done any wrong in his life,” Heather Lawrence, Dante’s mother said.

Lawrence also addressed the courtroom Thursday. For the first time, he apologized to Carter’s family and asked for mercy from the judge.

“I would like to ask the family of Gavin Carter for forgiveness and I ask that this court have mercy and allow me to return to my family as soon as possible,” Lawrence said.

Carter’s family was emotional during the hearing. Members of his family and friends prepared statements for the judge. They said because Lawrence left the scene and did not turn come forward sooner, he caused immense suffering over the last 16 months. His fiancé, Victoria Forbes, was in Carter’s car the night of the crash.

“Gavin is the love of my life. He was my future and he has been ripped away from me by someone careless enough to leave me crying in the middle of the highway. I can never forgive someone like that,” Forbes said.

Lawrence was also emotional as he heard Carter’s family speak. His attorneys asked the judge for three years in prison, despite the minimum sentence being 21 months. 

Judge Tatiana Salvador took time to express how difficult this case was for her to preside over since Lawrence does not have any prior convictions and is still young. She ultimately sentenced him to five years in prison.

“I have quite frankly agonized over this case probably more than others since the day you entered your plea and I started researching the case,” Salvador explained.

Following the five year prison sentence, Lawrence will be on probation for five years. During that time, the judge ordered Lawrence to complete 500 hours of community service and speak with students about driving safety.

First Coast News spoke with Carter’s family after the hearing. His mother, Dawn, said she was disappointed the prison sentence was not longer, but she is ready to properly grieve her son.

“Do I think in the grand scheme of things where the maximum sentence is 30 and he’s doing five, I think it sets a precedent for other people. I really do. I think maybe there should be some changes to some laws, but based on how the legal system works, I mean, she did what she was required to do in the eyes of the law, and I can’t be mad at her for it. Nothing brings Gavin back,” Dawn said.