Shelby County man sentenced to 25 years in prison for drunk driving that killed two children

A Shelby County man pleaded guilty in a 2020 DUI crash that killed two siblings in Hoover.

Christopher Shane Anagnos, 50, pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the deaths of Serris Prude, 8, and Emryhe Prude, 11.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

The case was prosecuted by Jefferson County Assistant District Attorneys Aaron Brown and Warren Brooks.

Anagnos was represented by attorney Kathy Luker.

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Alaric May presided over the case.

Anagnos was the driver of a GMC heavy-duty truck that police say caused the horrific four-vehicle crash on September 10, 2020. Police and court records show Anagnos was texting and under the influence of fentanyl at the time of the fatal crash.

The accident occurred this Thursday at 7:44 a.m. in front of the Hoover Square shopping center.

Police said Anagnos' 1996 GMC C6 heavy-duty truck was traveling southbound when it struck a 2010 Honda Fit from behind as it was stopped in traffic.

The impact of the crash threw the Honda into a 2017 Lexus CX460 that was stopped, causing the Lexus to crash into a 2018 Ford F-150 that was also stopped.

Emryhe and Serriss were in the back seats of the Honda Fit.

Serris was taken to Children's of Alabama, where she was pronounced dead at 8:50 a.m. Emryhe was also taken to Children's, where he also later died.

A 13-year-old brother who was sitting in the passenger seat suffered minor injuries and was also taken to the children's hospital.

The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office first issued arrest warrants for Anagnos in 2020.

The following year, he was arrested by U.S. marshals in Mexico and then imprisoned in Texas until he was extradited to Alabama.

“Now,” Brooks said, “the victim’s family can move on and begin the healing process as best they can.”