Outrage over Britt Reid's 3-yr jail term for DWI crash that left little Ariel Young with brain injuries
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: Britt Reid, the former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach was sentenced to three years in prison on Tuesday, November 1, for a DWI charge stemming from his 2021 car crash that left Ariel Young severely brain injured.
The prosecutor also read a statement from Ariel’s devasted mother, Felicia Miller. In it, she explained how Ariela’s life was forever changed by the fateful crash that night. Ariel now wears glasses, may need leg braces, and is in special education classes because she takes longer to process information, reported WCAX. In announcing the decision, the Judge cited that Britt Reid has caused “much harm to Ariel and her family” and sentenced him to three years in prison. However, Ariel's family opposed the plea deal and wanted Reid to be sentenced to a maximum of seven years.
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Reid, who is also the son of Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, pleaded guilty on September 12 to driving while intoxicated when his Ram pickup truck crashed into two vehicles near Arrowhead Stadium on February 4, 2021. Reid's truck crashed into a car with two children inside, 5-year-old Ariel suffered critical brain injuries in the incident, and a four-year-old suffered non-life-threatening injuries. “On the cold night of Feb 4, 2021 – one of us was on the side of the road, broken down, trying to get to a minimum-wage job while Britt Reid was at work, preparing to go to the Super Bowl,” wrote Miller. “This is not a game. This is not a Chief’s game. This is our life.”
Following the crash, an officer reported that Reid smelled of alcohol and his eyes were bloodshot. Reid measured a 0.113 blood alcohol level and was driving 83 miles per hour 1.9 seconds before the crash. He later confessed that he had two to three drinks before driving and that he was on Adderall. Tom Porto, the attorney for Ariel’s family, stated that Ariel's family was not pleased with the deal and wanted Reid to be sentenced to a maximum of seven years. “The victims of this crime are outraged that the defendant was not sentenced to the maximum sentence allowable by law," he said.
"No amount of prison time will ever be enough to punish the defendant for the pain and suffering he caused this family and the ongoing difficulties Ariel will continue to endure for the rest of her life. She will endure. She will strive, and she will thrive. She is Ariel strong.” Furthermore, Reid's defense attorney described the former Chiefs coach as a husband, and father of three, who continues to have a close relationship with his own parents, reported the source.
They continued by saying, Reid has a “commitment to family, willingness to help others, and sincere remorse for his conduct and the resulting tragedy that affected the lives of many, but particularly [Ariel Young].” However, Reid's defense team had petitioned for a probation sentence to keep him out of jail. Prosecutors argued that Reid may not have driven that February night with the intent of injuring someone but he chose to ignore the potential consequences of his actions. Whilst In court, Britt Reid apologizes to Ariel Young for his actions and said he prays for her.