A 34-year-old drunk mom was sentenced to a maximum of 180 years in prison for killing her three kids in the crash and a 70-year-old man, Michael Sales. The mom of three, Rachel Bickerstaff, will spend most of her time in prison now with four counts of murder as sentenced by Judge Molly Keane. She’ll be eligible for parole after 70 years, which is less likely to happen.
The Nebraska woman had an alcohol level of .216, which is three times the legal allowable limit. She was driving at 100 mph before she crashed into another vehicle. The judge concluded the crash was severe, resulting in her kids and other drivers dying. The fifth charge of DUI was imposed on her as she pleaded with no content in March.
Moreover, she had a prior DUI conviction and another assault charge from May. She had attacked her cellmate in the jail. Her eldest kid was 5 years old, her middle one was 18 months old, and her youngest one was just 11 days old. She ran the red light and caused the accident on September 27, 2024, in Omaha. Her highest speed was 142 mph, which is five times more than the speed limit, as per Law & Crime.
The prosecutor has called the crash scene a long-lasting trauma even to the first responders after the accident. According to the prosecutor, the firefighters and first responders being traumatized by the situation shows how bad the accident was. They are used to such incidents, but if a scene has long-lasting trauma on them, it signifies gravity.
‘Difficult to imagine a case with worse facts’: Mom who had a .216 BAC while driving over 100 mph in fiery crash that killed her 3 kids and another driver learns her fate https://t.co/guaOiJUcou
— Law & Crime (@lawcrimenews) June 20, 2025
Michaels’s daughter dropped to the ground in shock when she heard about the accident; she says her soul left the body, and she never got to say goodbye. It was an extremely violent crash that would haunt her forever, as her family could not even see his body one last time. She asked for a strict sentence so that another family would not have to face the same tragedy in the future.
Bickerstaff is regretful of her actions and regrets the pain she has caused. She stated, ” I wish I could take it back and trade my life for all the life lost.” In Bickerstaff’s defense, her attorney explained she had a rough childhood full of abuse, so she started drinking and doing drugs at 12.
Mom who had a .216 BAC while driving over 100 mph in fiery crash that killed her 3 kids and another driver learns her fate.
Judge Molly Keane sentenced Rachel Bickerstaff, 34, to a maximum of 180 years in prison. pic.twitter.com/YM3rcWqCoQ
— 0HOUR (@0HOUR1__) June 21, 2025
The judge argued reoffending in her case could happen, hence, the long prison time for her. Bickerstaff apologized for her actions in court, but she’s aware of the damage she has caused. Her regret for the crime is real as she appealed for help in court.
