New Jersey man sentenced to prison in fatal Northway crash
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The New Jersey man accused of killing Katryn Fisher of Ballston Spa was sentenced to 8 1/3 to 25 years in State Prison. Vasu Laroiya previously admitted to crashing into Fisher's vehicle while driving intoxicated on the Northway.
Laroiya was making a Snapchat video on his phone while driving up to 156 miles per hour. Fisher's vehicle struck a guard rail on the eastern shoulder and caught fire.
Following the crash, Fisher passed away from injuries at the Albany Medical Center. Laroiya pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in November. He has a history of DWI-related convictions in New Jersey.
Fisher was a Ballston Spa native and student at UAlbany. Her family and friends filled the courtroom. Shawn Fisher, her father, emotionally remembered her life and the impact of her loss.
“What I miss the most about Katie is a huge infectious smile and laugh and her hysterical sense of humor that cracked everyone up," Fisher said. "Katie was the light of my life and my sunshine and by taking her, you’ve taken all of that from me.”
Adrianne Rickson, Fisher's mother, faced Laroiya as she spoke about his actions following the crash.
“Lying about not being the perpetrator, lying about her speeding past you and brake checking you, lying about trying to help her," Rickson said. "How could you do that?”
Laroiya offered a brief apology to Fisher's family. Before he was sentenced, the prosecution provided still frames from the video Laroiya filmed as he drove and from a New York State Police body camera of Laroiya's behavior at the crash to the Albany County Department of Corrections.
Over the course of the case, Laroiya requested to go back to college, visit family in New Jersey and complained about his ankle monitor. His actions sparked harsh words from Judge William Little.
“I’ve dealt with stone cold killers and then there’s you," Little said. "Everything they said is correct. You are arrogant, you’re selfish, you’re entitled.”