It was an emotional day in court as Daniel Haynes III of Virgil was sentenced from 10 1/2 to 21 years in prison.
"There's no victory here, but this is what had to happen," said Cortland County District Attorney Mark Suben.
Haynes caused the April 2015 crash that killed his six-year-old daughter Alexia. Many family members, including Alexia's mother, were in attendance.
She tells us it's a day that offers some relief to the pain felt by all.
"I was waiting for it to end, and finally ... I mean, you'll never be at peace, but it definitely brought closure to everybody in my family," said Ashley Ingrahm, the victim's mother.
Haynes was driving roughly 100 miles per hour when he lost control of his car, striking a utility pole. Alexia was killed. Her two sisters and another man were injured.
Haynes accepted a plea agreement in August that carried a slightly shorter sentence, but he was arrested for violating an order of protection, which delayed his sentencing.
Before being taken out of the courtroom, Haynes' mother addressed the court, saying that he knew he did wrong and that Alexia's loss impacts her as her grandmother. She also said taking the plea was the right decision, and Ingrahm agrees.
"That was more of a relief, actually, than this," Ingrahm said. "I had begged him to not go to trial, and I do believe his mother that he did do it so that way he didn't have to reopen the case for me and his children."
Ingrahm says she's been trying hard to keep a clear head since the accident.
"I started going back to school, so that's actually what I do to keep my mind busy, and I really enjoy it, and just hanging out with my kids as much as I can and being there for them," Ingrahm said.
That's all done while keeping the memory of Alexia alive.
"Very hyper. If she didn't know you, she'd still run up and jump on your lap," Ingrahm said. " ... Just a very unique little girl with lots of ambition."
Ingrahm's family issued a statement in court, saying they would never forgive Haynes for his actions.