Drunken Driver Addie Thilavanh Sentenced For Killing 25-Year-old

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. -- A Spartanburg man was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison after he admitted to driving drunk and killing a pedestrian in the Croft community.

Addie Thilavanh, 49, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence with a death.

He will serve at least 80 percent of the sentence before he is eligible for release.

Thilavanh killed 25-year-old Cory Cole of Spartanburg in a wreck that occurred Sept. 19, 2010 on Cedar Springs Avenue.

Cole was walking on the edge of the road about 7:45 p.m. when he was struck by Thilavanh. Cole died a short time at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Two people in another car witnessed the wreck.

Thilavanh’s blood alcohol level was .23, Highway Patrol troopers said.

The wreck occurred less than a mile from the Thilavanh’s home, a short distance from the home of Cole’s grandparents.