A Tarboro man pled guilty to felony death by motor vehicle and was sentenced to three years in prison this week by Judge W. Russell Duke Jr. in Pitt County Superior Court in Greenville.

Initially, Danny Ellis Vick Jr., 31, was charged with driving while impaired, but those charges were dropped as prosecutors chose to press the more serious charge. A Pitt County grand jury issued the death by vehicle indictment.

At 7:55 a.m. on Jan. 23, Vick, traveling north in a 1998 BMW on N.C. 43 in Pitt County, veered over the yellow line causing a head-on collision with a 1995 Toyota driven by Frankie Peaden, 33, of Fountain.

Officials believe drugs were a factor in the accident.

Vick apologized for his actions to Peaden's wife, Kristen, and parents, who were present at the hearing.

Attorney Mark Ward, who represented Vick, said his client has been receiving treatment for drug addiction and is remorseful. He reminded the court that Peaden's death was unintentional.

When the accident occurred, Vick was out on parole after serving 13 years of a 20-year sentence for breaking and entering, and more than 40 counts of larceny. He tested positive for drugs and in a state Department of Correction snafu, but was permitted to remain on the streets.

Another blatant parole violation occurred in Jacksonville on Oct. 1, when Vick was arrested by the Jacksonville Police Department and charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver a scheduled II manufactured substance, manufactured schedule II substance, and resisting, obstruction and delay of arrest.

Neither parole violations were caught, but after the accident, a probable cause hearing was held. On Feb. 1, his parole was revoked.

Vick is scheduled to appear in Onslow County on May 19, for the Jacksonville charges.

Vick will serve the three-year sentence after he has finished serving the rest of his original 20-year sentence.