A husband who drove 51 miles with his wife clinging to the bonnet of his minivan has been jailed for five years.
Christopher Carroll, 26, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and spousal abuse after striking a deal with state prosecutors, who downgraded the charge, accepting his actions were not premeditated.
San Joaquin County Superior Court heard how Rebecca Ann Carroll clung to the windscreen wipers and wing-mirror as her husband reached speeds of 100mph swerving through traffic in a bid to throw her off.
She claimed in court that Carroll even turned up the car radio to drown out her screams.
‘I knew if I let go I would be unidentifiable road kill,’ she said. ‘He has no remorse that I was within one inch of my life.’
The drama unfolded after an argument between the couple at their home in Manteca, Northern California last February.
The construction worker allegedly grabbed his car keys and stormed outside.
But fearing he was under the influence of methamphetamine and in no state to drive, Mrs Carroll stood in front of the minivan blocking his path.
But when he started the engine as if to drive away, Mrs Carroll leapt onto the bonnet of the car in a last-ditch attempt to stop him.
Carroll allegedly sped off through through the streets of Manteca until he reached the Interstate 205 highway and hit 100mph.
Mrs Carroll recounted in court yesterday that her husband even turned up the music to drown out her screams and swerved through freeway traffic to throw her off the van.
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