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When police tested the blood alcohol level of Kinney, it was 0.18; more than twice the legal limit.
Kinney was on her way back home to Gerald that night, the couple were heading back to Brockmeier's house in Union, where her 6-year-old son, Nathan, waited for his mother to return.
"When Tammy went out the night she was killed, she told Nathan he could wait up for her to tuck him in," said Karen Poetz, Tammy's sister, during victim impact statements. "Nathan was still waiting on his mommy when the officer knocked on their door that morning."
Last month, Kinney accepted a plea deal from Franklin County prosecutors to spend seven years in prison for involuntary manslaughter, avoiding the maximum sentence of 15 years. She began serving that sentence Thursday.
Under state statutes, any driver who involuntary kills more than two people while having a high level of alcohol in their system is automatically charged with a Class B felony, meaning Kinney will have to serve at least 85 percent of her sentence.
Several family members of the victims spoke during the sentencing, many more submitted written statements to Judge Gael Wood.
"I recently saw a drunk driving commercial that said drunk drivers don't kill all their victims," said Mike Lane, Brockmeier's oldest brother. "I would add to that drunk drivers don't kill all of their victims suddenly. Some of them die slowly from heartbreak and grief. This tragedy has broken the hearts and devastated our family."
Lane added that the last few years of Brockmeier's life were tough. Her husband died two years ago from leukemia and her son, Nathan, has battled a heart condition from birth.
"Tammy cared for both of them with amazing determination," he said.
Mike Lane and his sister, Sandy Lane, both asked that Kinney never have the opportunity to drive again when she is released. If she is, they asked there be an interlock device installed in her car to ensure she doesn't drive drunk again.
Judge Wood said that decision wouldn't be up to him, but made by officials in the Department of Corrections.
"On June 7, 2008, a life sentence was given to the brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and friends of Tammy and Darryl, a life of grief, sadness and question," Sandy Lane said. " Why does this kind of tragedy happen?"
Prior to sentencing, Kinney tearfully gave a statement to the court and the families present.
"The words I'm sorry aren't nearly enough for what I've put this family through," she said. "If I could trade places with Darryl and Tammy, I would. I feel bad for having devastated their family."
Kinney, who sustained moderate injuries in the crash, added that she felt very sorrowful for the children who will grow up without parents and wishes she could help them in some way.
Judge Wood also addressed the court.
"In situations like this, I always feel that I wish there was something I could say to everyone involved," he said. "Clearly, many lives have been devastated by the act. Unfortunately, I don't have the words to soothe anyone."
He added that he hopes everyone involved can find some form of solace in their lives.
Following the proceedings, Poetz said that she felt prosecutors went easy on Kinney, offering her the seven years.
She cited the Larry Clay case in which an infant died. Clay is suspected of the murder and was offered three years by prosecutors. Earlier this week, Judge Wood denied Clay's deal.
"I felt like she (Kinney) deserved more of a sentence," Poetz said. "Seven years is a pretty low sentence for two deaths. I felt like she could have gone to a jury trial and gotten the maximum, but she ended up with a deal of seven years. I just wasn't satisfied with that. It just wasn't long enough."
Poetz said the incident has been terrible for the family and it's made her question DWI laws in the state. She said she plans to follow Kinney through the justice system to encourage that tough restrictions are put on her right to drive when she's released.
Poetz didn't seem to find much comfort in Kinney's apology.
"I think she was probably as sincere as she could be," Poetz said. "Anybody who's up there and has killed someone, to some extent, they have to feel sorry... I feel like it's going to take awhile for her to learn her lesson."
