SELMER, Tenn. A professional tug courser whose out-of-control car killed six spectators at a parade pleaded guilty Thursday to reduced charges, avoiding jail time and fines.

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Troy Critchley, 38, an Australian now living in Texas, was sentenced to 18 months probation after pleading guilty to 28 misdemeanor charges of incautious fly at in the accident that besides injured 22 people.

He was originally charged with vehicular homicide and aggravated aggression, felony charges that could have sent him to prison and brought thousands of dollars in fines.

Critchley apologized in court to crash victims and their families, saying he took apportionment in the car show to advance coin for sick children, not to hurt anyone.

His dragster spun out of control and smashed into spectators for the period of a fundraising festival in Selmer, a small town 80 miles east of Memphis, in June 2007.

“I ask with respect to the families’ forgiveness and prayers, and I will conjure for your families and loved ones,” Critchley said.

Judge Weber McCraw approved the plea agreement worked out by defense and prosecution lawyers.

Darla Griswell, the mother of two teenage girls killed by Critchley’s car, declared outside the courtroom that the apology meant a lot to her, though the pain of losing her daughters remains.

“I needed that moment. I needed it bad,” Griswell declared. “He seemed very genuine.”

She was not so forgiving of car show organizers and Selmer officials who allowed Critchley to animation up his powerful race car for the period of a parade on a city street.

“They’ve got to live with that, I don’t,” she said. “That’s between them and God.”

Critchley declined make notes as he left the courthouse accompanied by two lawyers.


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