Hillsborough Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Vehicular Homicide

Earlier this week, Hillsborough Circuit Judge sentenced 39-year-old Roger Lee Yeager to 15 years in prison for the vehicular homicide of Vertis Ryan in February 2007.  Prosecutors say that Yeager slammed into a car and killed the 83-year-old Ryan as he slowed from racing another vehicle at more than 100 mph.

Michael Anthony Smith, the man Yeager was racing, pleaded guilty to related charges and is now serving three years in prison.

Law enforcement said Yeager was racing at more than 100 mph just moments before crash and had slowed to 63 mph at the time of impact. The collision occurred in a 45 mph zone.

The judge sentenced Yeager to the 15-year maximum for vehicular homicide and five years of probation for reckless driving with serious bodily injury, followed by an additional year of probation for unlawful racing. He was convicted last month after a jury trial.

Yeager also had his Florida driver’s license revoked for the rest of his life.