A 21-year-old woman is charged with DUI manslaughter in a crash on Heckscher Drive that killed a 46-year-old man in 2016.
Troopers said Lark Hodge was 20 years old when she lost control of her Ford Escape on Heckscher Drive and drove into oncoming traffic on May 29, 2016.
She ran head-on into Derrick Lamar Jones' GMC Yukon, authorities said. Jones was killed in the crash. Hodge was taken to UF Health Jacksonville with serious injuries.
Photos: Man killed in head-on crash on Heckscher Drive
SOURCES: The male driver passed away before officials where on scene. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/Su0bLlGuQ1
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) May 29, 2016
Jones’ sister-in-law spoke with Action News Jax reporter Kevin Clark on Friday. She says Jones was always devoted to family.
“He helped a lot of people, and a lot of people loved him,” said Boogie Jones.
Troopers initially said alcohol might have been a factor in the crash. They announced Friday that Hodge was arrested and charged with DUI manslaughter.
While his sister-in-law says Jones was no saint, she doesn’t believe the punishment for Hodge goes far enough.
“I did read the autopsy report, and I know he had alcohol in his system,” she said. “But he ain’t the one that swerved off the side of the road, and smashed into this girl and killed her.”
A judge set her bond at $75,000. She has since been released from jail.
Investigators tell me the female driver may have been under the influence of alcohol. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/6xR8s9fKT8
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) May 29, 2016
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