AKRON, Ohio — An Akron woman will spend at least the next six years in prison for causing a wrong-way crash that killed one person more than a year ago.
Jessica Skinner, 22, originally pleaded guilty back in August to two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI). On Wednesday, Summit County Common Pleas Judge Alison McCarty sentenced her to a maximum of nine years behind bars for her crimes.
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The incident in question occurred late at night on May 12, 2022, when officials say Skinner was driving east in the westbound lanes of Interstate 76 near South Arlington Road in Akron. Her car slammed head-on into another vehicle being driven by 41-year-old Lisabeth Dayton, who died at the scene.
Following the collision, police ruled Skinner had been drunk while behind the wheel. Her blood-alcohol level was ruled to be .248, more than three times the legal limit.
"This tragedy was completely avoidable. Jessica Skinner made the decision to get behind the wheel drunk and unfortunately killed an innocent person," Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh said in a statement following today's sentencing. "I urge people to use a designated driver or call for a ride if you are going out and drinking alcohol. This is why my office sponsors the ArriveAlive campaign several times a year in Summit County. In over five years we have provided over 3,000 free rides through ArriveAlive."
Skinner herself also suffered severe injuries in the crash. She has since been confined to a wheelchair.