Saugus woman sentenced in fatal hit-and-run

SALEM, Mass. (AP) — A Saugus woman has been sentenced to four-to-five years in state prison for leaving the scene of an accident that killed an 81-year-old man nearly four years ago.

Twenty-six-year-old Steffany Barbanti also was fined $1,000 Friday in Salem Superior Court.

Prosecutor Jennifer Kirshenbaum said Barbanti's apology in court was inconsistent with her earlier actions. Kirshenbaum said Barbanti ignored for two years pleas from Christos Agganis' family for someone to come forward.

Barbanti was convicted last month in the January 2010 accident. Agganis was crossing a Saugus street to meet his family for dinner at a restaurant.

Police said an anonymous tip led them to Barbanti, and investigators found she had work done on her SUV about the time Agganis was struck. She denied striking him and testified that a fallen tree branch broke her windshield.

Cox Media Group