A motorist from Rhode Island has entered a plea of no contest related to a hit-and-run incident that tragically claimed the life of an elderly woman, aged 85.

Caitlin Kelly, aged 29, faced the court on Tuesday, where she admitted to not stopping after an accident that resulted in a fatality. This plea comes over two years after the heartbreaking event, where she struck Vanda Makovetskiy with her vehicle. At the time, Makovetskiy was enjoying her regular walk with her husband of 53 years. The couple had become well-known in their Providence neighborhood for their daily hand-in-hand strolls since moving to the United States from Ukraine in 1995.

As reported by local CBS affiliate WPRI, during the court proceedings, prosecutors presented surveillance footage showing Kelly halting at a red light at 6:14 a.m. on October 4, 2023. She was then seen turning onto North Main Street, right at the moment when the Makovetskiys, embarking on their cherished morning routine, were taking their daily walk, a ritual they had maintained for 28 years.

The community fondly recognized the couple’s daily walks, as reflected in the victim’s obituary.

Unfortunately, the tragic collision was also recorded, capturing Kelly’s failure to stop and assist the elderly woman she had just hit. Instead, she continued driving until she paused at another red light, before ultimately driving away from the scene.

Prosecutors said Kelly sent a text to a friend about three minutes after she hit Makovetskiy saying, “I just hit someone head-on riding a scooter.” Kelly also filed a claim with her insurance company following the crash.

Two days after Kelly killed Makovetskiy, her car was towed by investigators looking into the fatal crash. She texted two of her friends saying, “I’m so f—ing scared” and “I’m in deep s—.” Prosecutors stated that Kelly’s actions proved that she knowingly avoided reporting the crash.

A spokesperson for Makovetskiy’s family read statements at the hearing on their behalf, including a statement from her widower. Anisim Makovetskiy, now 96, wrote, “My plan was completely different. I’m older, and I couldn’t even imagine that I would be left without my other half. I shudder and my heart breaks every time people meet me on the street and remember how they saw us both every day.”

Kelly was sentenced to 10 years in prison with three to serve, followed by 10 years probation and the suspension of her license for three years.