File photo Rescue crews work at the scene of the May 3, 2016 crash on Route 101 in Milford that claimed the life of a Gilford woman and resulted in a negligent homicide charge against Roberta Odell, who was sentenced Wednesday to a suspended prison sentence upon pleading guilty to the charge.

NASHUA – Through choking sobs that often made her difficult to understand, Roberta Odell tearfully apologized in court Wednesday to the family of Susan Robbs, who was killed in a May 2016 crash caused by Odell’s reckless driving and speeding.

“I’m so sorry,” Odell said, turning in her wheelchair as best she could to face Thomas Robbs, his daughter Cindy and three other family members who attended Odell’s plea and sentencing hearing.

“I can’t possibly understand the pain I have caused … when I was told I killed someone … ,” Odell said, tailing off and becoming inaudible.

“I can only hope you forgive me.”

The plea agreement, which Hillsborough County Superior Court-South Judge Charles Temple ultimately accepted, calls for a State Prison term of one to three years for Odell, all suspended for five years. She and her attorneys, Eleftheria Keans and Pamela Jones, agreed on the sentence in exchange for Odell’s plea to one count of felony negligent homicide.

Although the plea deal doesn’t include any provisions regarding Odell’s driver’s license, the state Division of Motor Vehicles will likely schedule a hearing to decide whether to suspend, or revoke, her license.

Regardless of how the DMV rules, Temple told Odell in his sentencing remarks that he is “glad” she hasn’t driven since the crash, and going forward, “it’s far better for you not to drive.”

The only other condition of the plea agreement is that Odell, 55, of Winchester, remain on good behavior and not be charged with any crimes for at least the duration of the five-year sentence suspension.

Assistant County Attorney Brian Greklek-McKeon, who prosecuted the case with First Assistant County Attorney Kent Smith, said the state agreed to the plea deal after weighing several factors, among them the fact Odell, aside from her actions on the day of the crash, has no criminal or motor vehicle record.

Also considered was Odell’s “personal circumstances,” mainly the health problems that include a stroke shortly after the crash and her need to use a wheelchair.

Greklek-McKeon also cited the likelihood, given Odell’s lack of record and health problems, that the state would have difficulty convincing a jury to convict her.

Susan Robbs, 69, died at the scene of the May 3, 2016 crash, which occurred on Route 101 in Milford at the Route 13 overpass. She was a passenger in the car driven by her husband, Thomas, then 74. The two had been married 49 years.

Thomas Robbs suffered less serious injuries and taken to a local hospital. He has since recovered.

Odell, whose 2011 Nissan Rogue came to rest balanced precariously atop the Route 13 overpass guardrail, sustained serious injuries and was flown to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon for treatment.

The day of the crash was “the worst day imaginable in the lives of so many. A family lost a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother. Everyone lost a friend, a confidant, an adviser,” the Robbs family wrote in a statement a state victims advocate read in court on their behalf.

Thomas Robbs “has to live with the memory of the (crash), seeing his wife of 49 years lifeless in the car … hearing bystanders say, ‘this one isn’t breathing,’ and having (medical personnel) tell him she didn’t make it,” the advocate read.

Susan Robbs’s son “is still angry, knowing his mother was killed as a result of Roberta’s actions,” she continued. “Susan is missed every day … (the family) isn’t able to tell her about all the good things happening in their lives … they’re not able to seek advice, to share a laugh.”

Not only did Susan Robbs never get to “see her mother celebrate her 100th birthday,” according to the statement, “she will never see her grandchildren get married. She will never see her great-grandchildren.”

The emotion filling both sides of the courtroom was reflected in Temple’s sentencing remarks.

“This is obviously a very difficult, tragic case. I need only look to the back of the courtroom to see the pain, the agony, that it has caused,” Temple began, referring to where the Robbs family sat.

The judge expressed gratitude to the Robbs family for “giving me a glimpse of Sue” through their impact statement, which, he added, “gave me insight into who she was as a person.”

Temple urged the family to “hold onto the wonderful memories she left all of you. Please don’t let them be drowned out by this horrible crime that was committed against her.”

Addressing Thomas Robbs, Temple cited the “49 years you had with your wife … you deserve a lot more, but please remember those 49 years, and hold onto that as long as you possibly can.”

Thomas Robbs, clearly moved by Temple’s words, stood and thanked Temple aloud. Once the hearing concluded, Temple called Robbs to the bench – to shake his hand and praise him and his family for being there for the hearing.