ST. LOUIS – An East St. Louis, Illinois, man received a suspended sentence and probation after pleading guilty earlier this summer to causing a deadly crash in downtown St. Louis.

Sierra Rubymae Ward-Micke of De Soto was killed around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 17, 2020, while joyriding with friends in downtown.

St. Louis police said Ward-Micke was riding in the back of a pickup truck on southbound 10th Street and was ejected during a collision. Three others were also ejected in the crash. Ward-Micke did not survive. She was 17.

According to investigators, La’Javion D. Ramsey was traveling eastbound on Washington Avenue, traveling 43 miles per hour in a 25-mph zone, when he ran a red light and collided with the pickup truck.

At the time, family members said Ward was just weeks away from starting her senior year of high school and college acceptance letters were already coming in.

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The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office charged Ramsey with first-degree involuntary manslaughter, meaning he could have faced up to 10 years in state prison.

However, a state sentencing assessment report, filed by Ramsey’s attorney in July, requested the judge sentence Ramsey to probation with conditions or a mix of incarceration and probation. The report mentioned Ramsey’s conduct, remorse, criminal history, substance abuse, and other life circumstances.

While appearing in court on Monday for sentencing, Ramsey’s attorney said his client remained at the crash scene that evening and cooperated with police. For his part, Ramsey apologized in court and said he understood that his actions that night caused Ward-Micke’s death.

Circuit Court Judge Thomas McCarthy sentenced Ramsey to 60 days in jail and probation. However, since Ramsey already spent that time in jail, it was considered time served.

Ramsey’s probation includes completing a substance evaluation and treatment program, a driving program, and maintaining a full-time job.

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