MADISON, W.Va. — A Boone County man was sentenced Tuesday to spend the rest of his life in prison with a chance for parole in 21 years following a September 2014 drug-related crash on U.S. Route 119.
Frank Gene Thompson, 40, was high on meth and Xanax when he lost control of his truck near Danville. Four people died in the fiery crash, including Thompson’s young children, he was the only one to survive.
Thompson had two prior felony convictions so Boone County Prosecutor Keith Randolph went after the recidivism option in the case. On Tuesday, a jury found Thompson was the same man to commit the two previous crimes and the judge sentenced him to life in prison with mercy.
“We felt it appropriate to pursue the penalty under the three strikes law,” Randolph told MetroNews.
The victims were Betty Holstein, 31, Rebecca Bias, 46, Alyssa Bowman, 5 and Nathaniel Thompson, 1.
Thompson was convicted of four counts of DUI causing death and two counts of child neglect resulting in death, all felonies, and three misdemeanor charges for road violations.
Randolph said it’s one of the most tragic cases he has ever been involved with.
“Sometime prior to him driving, Frank Thompson took some Xanax and he went to a location up in Alum Creek and before leaving there he decided to snort a line of crystal meth and after he did that he decided to hop in the car and drive down 119 and about a half hour later it ends in the fiery crash,” Randolph said.
Thompson was also sentenced Tuesday to 3-15 years each on two child neglect resulting in death convictions in connection with the case. He’ll have to serve 21 years before having a chance for parole.