UPDATE: Wisconsin driver sentenced to 54 years in prison after hitting, killing 3 Girl Scouts and mother

KSTP

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The man accused in a hit-and-run crash that killed three Girl Scouts and a mother who were collecting trash along a highway in northern Wisconsin was sentenced to 54 years total in prison Wednesday.

The judge presiding over the hearing read sentences back to back Wednesday. Colten Treu, 23, received a 99-year sentence and must serve 54 of those years in prison.

Treu admitted to huffing from an aerosol canister in November 2018. He then crashed his pickup truck into members of Girl Scout Troop 3055 as they were picking up litter on Highway P in Lake Hallie.

The four people killed in the crash were 9-year-old Jayna Kelley, 10-year-old Autumn Helgeson, both of Lake Hallie, 10-year-old Haylee Hickle and her mother, 32-year-old Sara Jo Schneider, from Lafayette.

Jayna's father Brian spoke outside of court. 

[KSTP/ Jim O'Connell]

"It's been on our [minds] since the day of the crash that this day would come, it came, now it's somewhat of a relief, to go on with our lives without this hanging over our heads," he said.

Brian added the fellow Girl Scouts have been doing projects since the crash to remember the girls, including his daughter.

"We'll be doing a lot of things in [Jayna's] honor, making sure her name lives on longer than any of us," Brian said.

Treu was charged with 10 felonies – including four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle and four counts of hit-and-run. Treu changed his plea to no contest on the four counts of homicide and guilty on a count of hit-and-run.

Wisconsin man charged with hitting, killing Girl Scouts and mother changes plea

He appeared in Chippewa County court Tuesday, as family members of the victims spoke.

'He left them like garbage': Victims' families speak before sentencing of Wis. man who hit Girl Scout troop

Wednesday, Treu addressed the victims' families, saying, "I'm sorry for the pain and suffering… you have every right to hate me."

KSTP's Eric Chaloux is reporting from the courtroom on this case. Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates.