A Delaware man who struck two people during an unsanctioned 2022 car rally in Wildwood was sentenced to 25 years in prison Thursday.
Gerald White, now 38, was apprehended attempting to flee the scene after he struck a car and then hit two pedestrians.
One of the pedestrians, 18-year-old Lindsay Weakland, died at the scene.
He was in town for the H2Oi car rally that authorities said was not sanctioned and resulted in several crashes throughout the city.
White has a 20-year history of driving violations dating to when he was 17. His license was suspended at the time of the crashes.
He pleaded guilty in December to two counts counts of aggravated manslaughter and two counts of aggravated assault.
White — who was in his car with the window down wearing a white mask that cover his whole face — backed up until he collided with a truck. He then ignored the officer’s order to stop and continued through a red signal onto Atlantic Avenue.
The officer put out information on the vehicle, which reportedly struck a building moments later.
White then struck the passenger side of the car Ogden was in before losing control and striking the two pedestrians.
He then tried to flee the scene on foot, but was stopped with the help of an off-duty Cape May County corrections officer.
“The tragic deaths of Lindsay Weakland and Timothy Ogden are heartbreaking losses for their friends, loved ones and family that can never be overcome," Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland said. "I am proud of the work done by the detectives, assistant prosecutors and the Victim-Witness Unit in my office and the members of the Wildwood Police Department that made sure justice was done for their families.
"Anyone considering engaging in an illegal, unsanctioned car rally should be forewarned that it will not be tolerated by law enforcement, and we will use the full force of the law to make certain justice is served," he added.
While information provided by law enforcement had White listed as living in Pittsburgh, his attorney previously said he lived in New Castle, Dela., as his mother's caretaker.
