Driver on the Baltimore Washington Parkway Pleads Guilty in Crash Resulting in Death of a Passenger
Was High on PCP at Time of the Crash
Greenbelt, Maryland - Jade Clayton Jackson, age 25, of Burtonsville, Maryland, pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter and to driving a vehicle on a federal park highway after his license was revoked.
The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein and Chief Teresa Chambers of the U.S. Park Police.
According to his plea agreement, Jackson was driving on the Baltimore Washington Parkway on July 7, 2011 with three passengers. Another motorist called 911 after observing Jackson swerve and drive out of control. After passing the exit ramp to Route 197 and while on the phone with 911, the motorist saw Jackson’s car accelerate, hit a guard rail, swerve across the road, lose control and crash into trees. The rear driver’s side passenger in the car was killed and the other two passengers were seriously injured.
A toxicology report revealed that Jackson’s blood contained phencyclidine, known as PCP, rendering Jackson incapable of driving safely.
As the time of the accident, Jackson’s Maryland license was revoked.
Jackson faces a maximum penalty of eight years in prison for manslaughter and six months in prison and a $5,000 fine for driving after his license was revoked. U.S. District Judge Roger W. Titus has scheduled sentencing for August 1, 2012 at 3:30 p.m.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein commended the U.S. Park Police for its work in the investigation and thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Hollis Raphael Weisman and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann O’Brien, who are prosecuting the case.
