UC Berkeley journalism student Kevin Lloyd Jones, who was driving during a Menlo Park crash that claimed the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Halberstam, was sentenced today to five days in the sheriff’s work program in San Mateo County Superior Court, according to Bay City News.

Jones, 27, appeared nervous when he read a statement apologizing to the Halberstam family. “His memory will guide my decisions … my career as a journalist will be a tribute to his life,” Jones said, according to BCN.

A probation department report recommended nine months in jail, but Judge Mark Forcum and Deputy District
Attorney Shin-Mee Chang felt the five-day sentence was appropriate given the level of Jones’ remorse.

Halberstam’s daughter Julia sent a letter to be entered into court, Chang said. In the letter she said that her father would not have
wanted Jones to go to jail, but because of his “chronic carelessness” behind the wheel of a car he should not have a driver’s license. Jones has previous infractions including DUI, being the party at fault for an accident and speeding, BCN reported.