BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- A man from Oklahoma who caused a three-vehicle crash that killed a bride-to-be received a 28-year prison sentence.  Clifford Roberts, 21, admitted he was trying to outrun police when he ran a red light in Rogers last April.

  Dawn Spears, 24, of Monett, Mo., died after Roberts’ pickup struck the car in which she was riding.  The car then hit a sport utility vehicle and flipped over, killing Spears and critically injuring her fiancé, Jason Hull.  The two had just picked up her wedding dress and were on the way home. The crash also injured a woman and a child in the SUV, and a woman and a child in Roberts’ pickup.

   Roberts had a warrant for his arrest in Oklahoma and said he sped away from a Rogers police officer to avoid arrest. The officer said Roberts’ pickup had a fictitious license plate on it.  Police said Roberts drove up to 100mph, ran stoplights and stop signs and passed vehicles in a center lane.

  Roberts pleaded guilty for first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree battery, and fleeing.  He received 20-year sentences for each battery, to be served consecutively, and a 10-year sentence for fleeing.  The sentences for battery and fleeing will run concurrently with the sentence for murder.

Prosecutors originally charged Roberts with manslaughter, which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence, before upgrading to first-degree murder.   Roberts will be eligible for parole in about 19 years.