The woman who drove her sport utility vehicle into a crowd of people in Blacksburg last summer was ordered this afternoon to serve one year and 10 days of a six-year prison sentence.

Mary Elizabeth Bowen, 21, was convicted earlier this year of three felony maiming charges and driving under the influence of alcohol after a bench trial in Montgomery County Circuit Court. Today, Bowen began sobbing uncontrollably when Circuit Court Judge Ray Grubbs ruled on her sentence. He ordered her to serve two years on each maiming charge plus another 10 days for the DUI conviction.
 
Bowen, a former Virginia Tech student, had been drinking and was sending a text message on her cellphone when she swerved her SUV onto the sidewalk in front of Big Al's Grille & Sports Bar in downtown Blacksburg as bars closed about 2 a.m. June 16, striking several people. At least eight were treated for injuries.

Bowen testified for the first time today, telling the one victim who was in the courtroom: "I'm so sorry. You have no idea how much I regret this."