Margaret Caitlin Walker Sentenced to 8 Years for DUI Manslaughter in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash
GAINESVILLE, FL – Margaret Caitlin Walker has been sentenced to eight years in prison for DUI manslaughter in connection with a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred on the night of November 27, 2022, on South Main Street.
According to investigators, Walker was driving her 2017 Volvo SUV southbound on South Main Street when she struck a University of Florida graduate student who was riding a bicycle. Rather than stopping or calling for help, Walker continued driving home, failing to report the crash. The force of the impact launched the victim into the nearby woods, where he tragically died from his injuries.
Officers discovered vehicle debris at the crash scene, which was later matched to Walker’s Volvo. Additional crash evidence further linked her to the scene. During a subsequent interview, Walker admitted to consuming alcohol at multiple bars that day, stating she had been drinking before the crash and felt “tipsy” when she left the last bar to drive home.
Walker also confessed that she realized she hit something but assumed it was a traffic pole that was already knocked down in the area.
The court ultimately found Walker’s actions—driving under the influence, failing to render aid, and leaving the scene—demonstrated a grave disregard for human life. She was sentenced to eight years in state prison as part of a plea agreement.
The victim, whose name has not been released publicly out of respect for the family’s privacy, was remembered as a promising UF graduate student with a bright future ahead.
This tragic case underscores the devastating consequences of impaired driving and the importance of accountability.
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