DC Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Involuntary Manslaughter Charges in Connection With Fatal Crash on Clara Barton Parkway

Greenbelt, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Jordan Johnson, 28, of Washington, D.C., today, to 30 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for involuntary manslaughter. Additionally, Judge Xinis ordered Johnson to pay $12,000 of restitution to the family. The sentence is in connection with a fatal car crash on the Clara Barton Park that claimed the life of a 23-year-old man.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the sentence with Chief Scott Brecht, United States Park Police (USPP).

On March 20, 2022, at about 4:45 a.m., Johnson was driving on the Clara Barton Parkway, in Montgomery County, Maryland, when he struck two vehicles that were in the roadway. Both cars were involved in a separate crash.  Victim 1 was one of the individuals involved in the original car crash, but died on impact when struck by Johnson’s vehicle.  Victim 1 was pronounced dead at the scene.

Immediately following the crash, Johnson and his passenger walked away from the scene towards Washington, D.C., where Johnson resides.  Law enforcement responded to the scene of the collision and broadcasted a description of Johnson and his passenger to local law enforcement agencies.  Then USPP spotted them approximately a half mile away from the crash scene. 

Johnson’s passenger told law enforcement officers that as she and Johnson walked away from the crash site, she saw the victim on the ground bleeding. Johnson later told law enforcement that they left the scene because he knew authorities would identify him from the paperwork associated with the apartment complex that he borrowed the car from.

A USPP crash reconstructionist concluded that Johnson traveled between 95 and 99 miles per hour in the five seconds prior to the crash. The posted speed limit is 35 miles per hour. As result of the speed he was driving, Johnson was unable to observe and perceive the vehicles stopped ahead.  Additionally, Johnson drove recklessly during the entirety of his recorded trip, spanning approximately 40 minutes prior to this crash.  The crash reconstructionist concluded that Johnson’s high rate of speed was a major contributing factor to the crash.

U.S. Attorney Hayes commended the USPP for its work in the investigation.  Ms. Hayes also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys LaShanta Harris and Ellen Nazmy who prosecuted this federal case.

For more information about the Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, visit justice.gov/usao-md and justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

# # #