(Source: Rome News Tribune)
An Alabama woman was found guilty Thursday morning by Floyd County Superior Court Judge William F. Sparks of causing the deaths of two people in a fatal wreck last June on Alabama Highway near Halls Valley Road.Sparks sentenced defendant Jamie Allison Smith, 38, to 15 years in prison and ordered her to pay a $2,500 fine and $8,700 to the victim’s compensation fund.
Smith was charged with felony homicide by vehicle and serious injury by vehicle for the June 8, 2024 wreck, which occurred on a Saturday morning. She was driving a white 2023 Acura heading east on Alabama Highway at about 8:40 a.m. near Halls Valley Road when the Acura veered into the opposing lane and struck a Freightliner tractor-trailer.The Freightliner then veered into the oncoming lane and struck the 2020 Nissan Altima carrying Rico English, 18, and Jeremiah Jackson, 18, who were best friends heading to a football camp at Shorter University. The driver of the vehicle, Ashley Jackson, 31, was also killed. Ashley Jackson was the girlfriend of Jeremiah Jackson’s father.
Sparks delivered his guilty verdict and then asked for statements from family members of the victims.Victim Ashley Jackson’s sisters addressed Sparks, stating they forgave Smith, but that there must be some accountability. Ashley Jackson was the youngest, and her sisters said she was studying to be a nurse.The mother of victim Rico English also addressed Sparks, stating that having her son torn from her has been unbearable, but it was worse for her 6-year-old son, who lost a beloved big brother.”I ask that your judgment is fair and is what you are trained to do,” English’s mother said. “This has been a very rough year.”English would have been a senior in high school this year and was an honor student, but his mother said that instead of planning for his prom and graduation, she is attending court.
“What’s hard for everyone in my office about this case is that she shouldn’t have even been on the road,” Floyd County Assistant District Attorney Elisabeth Giuliani said. “If she had followed the state of Alabama’s directive not to drive, Ashley and Rico would still be alive.” While speaking to the Sparks, Smith revealed that her own father had been killed in a drunk-driving accident, so she understood the impact of what she had done.Sparks stated before sentencing that the eloquent and powerful words of forgiveness by the victim’s family and Smith’s remorse had impacted his decision.”But this is what sentencing is all about, accountability, and we preach to people all the time, this is what happens when people keep drinking and driving,” Sparks said. “And I don’t understand how, as the victim yourself of losing your father to a drunk driving accident, you willingly got behind the wheel of a car several times while impaired.
“A portable breath test administered after the wreck showed the presence of alcohol, and a blood test administered when she was in the hospital showed acute levels of meth, toxicology reports stated.During the trial, Georgia State Patrol Trooper Levi Perry testified that Smith told her she was eating pretzels before the crash and had consumed several mixed drinks several hours before the wreck, which occurred at approximately 8:40 a.m.
Smith was the manager of a bar in Birmingham, Alabama, and was on the way home when the wreck occurred. Court testimony revealed that her license was currently suspended for DUI, and she had two other pending DUIs.
