Man in deadly Diamond Billiards crash gets 7 years in prison

FORT MYERS, Fla.- A 75-year-old man who police say was drunk when he slammed into the Cape Coral Diamond Billiards pool hall will spend seven years behind bars as part of a plea deal.

William Gulliver pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter, DUI with bodily injury, and DUI with property damage in the July crash that killed the pool hall’s chef, 60-year-old Ron Gravel.

In court Monday, Gravel’s family agreed with the plea deal and three family members gave very emotional statements in court.

“Every holiday and family get-together, and day for that matter, that Mr. Gulliver has been free, my family cannot help but think ‘why does this man who so selfishly took my dad from us get to spend time free with his family after committing such a heinous crime?'” said Katelyn Gravel, Ron Gravel’s daughter.

Police say Gulliver had a blood alcohol content of .402, five times the legal limit, at the time of the crash.

Gulliver will not be allowed to consume alcohol while serving three years probation after his prison sentence is complete.

“I want him to know that his irresponsibility killed a truly amazing man who had so much more life left to live,” Ron Gravel’s daughter added in court.

Gulliver must now pay $14,000 in restitution to Gravel’s family as well as $6,000 to Linda Girard and Tracy Booker, two women who were also injured in the crash.

“I pray it is a step forward to some closure for the Gravel family and others who were injured. A part of me feels like I have been sentenced with him,” Girard said in a statement. “I suffer from extreme anxiety disorder, PTSD and have practically become a prisoner to my own home… All due to the results of a very poor decision made by Mr. Gulliver himself.”