Submitted Photo The family of Falconer native Matthew “Billy” Eskeli IV said they were pleased with the sentence handed down to Marc Terrell following a fatal July crash in Ohio.

The family of a Falconer man killed in a crash over the summer said they have been left with “gaping holes in our hearts.”

In a statement to the OBSERVER, the family of Matthew Eskeli IV said they were pleased with the handling of the case. On Monday, Marc Terrell, 37, of South Charleston, Ohio, was sentenced to a prison term of 13.5 to 17.5 years – the maximum allowed by state law.

Terrell pleaded guilty Oct. 1 in Clark County Common Pleas Court to aggravated vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular assault and operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. He was charged for a July 2 crash on Interstate 70 that killed Eskeli, 20, and injured two passengers.

“While there is no punishment given to Marc Terrell that will bring Billy back, we are pleased that Mr. Terrell received the maximum sentence allowable by Ohio law,” the family said. “The sentencing does send a message that the justice system is going to punish offenders to the fullest extent of the law, and that it is not acceptable to drink and drive.”

An investigation determined that Terrell was driving about 135 mph with a blood alcohol content more than three times the legal limit. According to an accident report, Terrell was driving a BMW when he struck the left side of Eskeli’s Ford Focus around 2:30 a.m. on I-70, causing the sedan to leave the road, strike an exit sign and light pole, and roll onto its side.

Eskeli was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital.

Zach B. Cooper of Brockport and Benjamin C. Cooper of Corning, both passengers in Eskeli’s vehicle, were treated for injuries after the collision. The three were returning to New York after competing in the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb motorcycle competition in Colorado.

The Falconer native was a fourth-year mechanical engineering student at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He was a 2017 graduate of Falconer High School where he was also Valedictorian of his class.

In their statement, the family thanked Clark County Prosecutor Dan Driscoll and his office, as well as as Lt. Brian Aller and the Ohio State Patrol “for all of their hard work and for helping our family through this difficult process.”

“Billy was an amazing son, grandson, nephew and friend to many,” the statement read. “He was kind, humble, smart and had a wonderful, witty sense of humor. We miss Billy more and more with each day that passes. Our family is so grateful for the incredible amount of support we have received from friends, neighbors and the entire community. While there is always going to be gaping holes in our hearts, we know what Billy would want is for us to all make him proud in the way we live our everyday lives. Be humble and be kind, and think of Billy.”

Terrell was in court Monday dressed in a black and white prison suit. As part of the sentencing, Judge Douglas Rastatter also permanently suspended Terrell’s driver’s license.

Driscoll said he was happy with the outcome of the case, and thanked state patrol investigators with providing an abundance of evidence. He also said the family “has been great throughout all of this,” and hopes the sentencing can provide some closure.