Corey Andrews French, 34, received a 30-year state prison sentence on Thursday, October 23, 2025, after a Hernando County jury found him guilty of multiple felony charges connected to a deadly 2022 crash in Brooksville.
French faced two counts of Vehicular Homicide, one count of Possession of a Firearm by a Felon, and one count of Violation of Domestic Violence Injunction by Possessing a Firearm.
Details of the Crash
The fatal crash happened on January 10, 2022, as French was driving south on U.S. 19.
Evidence presented in court showed French ran a red light, crossed over a median, and entered the northbound lanes, crashing into a vehicle driven by 35-year-old Amber West, who was turning at the time.
West died at the scene, and her six-month-old son, Kody Burbage, passed away less than an hour later from crash-related injuries. French suffered minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
Firearm Discovered During Investigation
While investigating, Florida Highway Patrol troopers uncovered additional felony violations.
During an inventory search of French’s vehicle at the scene, officers found a firearm in the center console. As a convicted felon under a domestic violence injunction, French was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
He was first arrested on this firearm charge while the crash investigation continued.
Witness Statements and Video Evidence
The investigation involved witness accounts and dash cam footage, which confirmed French’s reckless behavior before the crash. Witnesses reported seeing him driving erratically, striking a parked car, and damaging his vehicle moments before the collision.
Dash cam video from a witness showed French speeding at the time of impact, which supported the vehicular homicide charges.
The conviction and 30-year prison sentence mark a significant step toward justice after the heartbreaking deaths of Amber West and her infant son.
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