BEDFORD – Dakota Sykes, 22, of Springville, was sentenced by Lawrence County Superior Court Judge John Plummer III to 10 years in prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death.
Sykes will serve 8 years in prison and the remaining two years on supervised probation.
Jannessa Ikerd, 20, of Bedford, was killed in a single-vehicle accident in the 3800 block of Huron Williams Road on Sunday, May 9, 2021.
“This was a terribly tragic example of the extreme consequences of drinking and driving. No sentence will ever bring Janessa Ikerd back to those who love her and we hope that this will serve as a reminder to everyone in the community that it is never worth it to get behind the wheel when you have been drinking, ” said Deputy Prosecutor Ryne Koucouthakis.
When Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrived at the scene of the crash on Sunday, May 9, 2021, they found a 2001 Ford Taurus driven by Sykes, had left the left side of the roadway and was “wrapped around a tree on the east side of the roadway.”
Officers and first responders found Sykes outside of the vehicle and Ikerd unresponsive and trapped inside.
Ikerd, who suffered internal injuries, was pronounced dead at the scene. Sykes suffered chest and head injuries and was flown by a medical helicopter from the scene to a Louisville Hospital for treatment.
Sykes, who was driving a vehicle belonging to Ikerd’s family, told officers he had been drinking before the accident and didn’t know what happened.
Bedford Fire Department extrication along with Indiana State Police troopers, Huron Volunteer Fire Department first responders, two IU Health ambulances crews, and a Seals ambulance crew assisted at the scene.
On May 10, 2021, a warrant was issued to remove the air bags, and restraint module, and DNA testing. The module showed neither Ikerd nor Sykes was wearing a seat belt.
Also on that day, a search warrant was issued for bodily fluids from Sykes. That warrant was served and samples were collected at U of L Hospital.
A witness to the accident said the car was found wedged between two trees. Sykes was the driver and Ikerd was the passenger. Sykes had suffered a laceration to his head. He was able to crawl out the back door. He and the witness then pried the door open with a shovel. The witness said Sykes had been drinking.
On June 9, 2021, investigators received the results of the toxicology report from Sykes’ blood draw. He had consumed alcohol. The result was 0.124. A warrant was then issued for his arrest.
