Teens Sentenced In Bellingham Street Racing Death

Prosecutors said that Ryan James Franks, 18, and Vitaly Sushch, 17, were street racing on Meridian Street in Bellingham on Feb. 1, 2007, when Sushch's car hit a pickup truck and killed 62-year-old passenger Fred Boettner, KIRO 7 reported.

Sushch's car burst into flames. He was saved by Good Samaritans who came upon the scene and pulled him from his vehicle.

In a packed courtroom, the victim's daughter, Kim Boettner, spoke about her father's death.

"It has now been one year, three months and four days since I last heard my dad's voice. Every morning I wake up and have to remind myself that I can't talk to my hero that day," said Boettner.

According to Boettner, police told her that her father's last words were "look out."

"I cannot imagine the instant fear he experienced and the trauma he had to endure before his heart finally gave out," said Boettner.

Sushch did not address the court before he was sentenced to two years in prison. He hugged family members goodbye and was taken into custody.

Before his sentencing, Franks told the victim's family he was sorry.

"Even though I didn't hit the truck in which Mr. Boettner was seated, I was wrong by not slowing down and not ending the nonsense sooner," Franks said.

Franks was sentenced to two years, two months in prison.