Angenette Welk, 44, was photographed smiling in a mugshot hours after a drink-driving crash that killed a 60-year-old mother in Marion County, Florida. The image, taken at the jail, shows Welk grinning broadly while less than four miles away doctors fought to save Sandra Clarkson's life.
Clarkson suffered severe head trauma when Welk's vehicle struck her car with such force that it was pushed into a horse trailer. She was declared brain dead on Mother's Day and died after being taken off life support on 14 May, according to a family fundraising page.
Welk was originally charged with felony DUI with great bodily harm and two misdemeanour counts. She posted $10,000 (£7,500) bail and entered not guilty pleas on 11 May. However, following Clarkson's death, the Florida Highway Patrol intends to arrest Welk on an upgraded charge of manslaughter while driving under the influence.
At the scene, Welk told police she was distracted after dropping her mobile phone before the collision. Her blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. She was uninjured in the crash.
Clarkson's daughters, Shiyanne Kroll and Keonna Sciacca, expressed their devastation and disgust at Welk's mugshot smile. “That disgusts me, and that means she has no remorse for what she did at all,” Kroll told Click Orlando. “It's destroyed us.”
