A Texas woman convicted of killing a 19-year-old university student while driving drunk has been sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by an unusual probation condition requiring her to spend 15 days in jail each year for the next decade on dates associated with the victims and the fatal crash.
Lynlee Pollis, 30, received the sentence after a jury found her guilty of intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault over a September 24, 2023, collision in Dallas that killed Southern Methodist University student Honor Wallace and seriously injured her friend, Catherine “CeCe” Solberg.
According to court evidence reported by FOX 4 and NBC 5, Pollis was driving a Lexus SUV when she ran a red light and crashed into the Volkswagen Jetta driven by Wallace. Investigators determined that Pollis had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.294 per cent, nearly four times Texas’ legal driving limit of 0.08 per cent.
Evidence presented during the trial indicated that Pollis was travelling at approximately 67 mph in a 35 mph zone before the collision. Wallace suffered fatal injuries and died following the crash, while Solberg sustained serious injuries, including a broken collarbone and a concussion.
The case went to trial in late September 2026, with the jury finding Pollis guilty of both charges on October 12. She was sentenced on October 14 by State District Judge Jennifer Balido.
Beyond the seven-year prison term, the judge imposed 10 years of probation, with a condition requiring Pollis to spend 15 days in jail each year. The designated dates include Wallace’s birthday, Solberg’s birthday, Pollis’s own birthday, Christmas and the anniversary of the crash.
The unusual condition has drawn attention because it ties the additional jail time to dates that hold personal significance for the victims and their families.
During the sentencing proceedings, relatives of Wallace and Solberg expressed anger over Pollis’s decision to contest the charges at trial rather than plead guilty, saying the proceedings forced them to relive the tragedy and its consequences.
Solberg’s father, Bobby, criticised Pollis over what he viewed as a lack of personal accountability.
“You were so drunk, and you wouldn’t admit it… You made us sit through this trial… We’ve seen no personal accountability from you,” he said.
The families’ statements reflected their frustration with the emotional toll of the lengthy court proceedings, alongside the permanent loss and injuries caused by the collision.
Pollis’s defence had challenged aspects of the prosecution’s case, including the evidence concerning her blood alcohol level. Her attorneys also argued against imposing a lengthy prison sentence, citing her lack of a prior criminal record.
Prosecutors, however, maintained that her decision to drive while heavily intoxicated and at excessive speed created a foreseeable risk to other road users.
Wallace was a sophomore at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, where she was studying English and Spanish. Her death devastated her family and friends, while Solberg continues to live with the consequences of her injuries.
The case has renewed attention to the dangers of drunk driving and the lasting impact that one driver’s decisions can have on multiple families.
Although Pollis’s seven-year prison sentence represents the main punishment for the offences, the additional probation condition ensures that her sentence will continue to carry consequences after her release.
The case also serves as a reminder that driving under the influence can result in irreversible harm, criminal convictions and years of legal consequences.
