Submitted
Viola Lynn Jackson, 59, died as a result of injuries sustained in the Jan. 20, 2017 wreck.
Submitted
Lauren C. Smith, 32, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence with a death and felony driving under the influence with great bodily injury.
Lauren C. Smith, 32, pleaded guilty to felony driving under the influence with a death and felony driving under the influence with great bodily injury. Circuit Judge Keith Kelly issued a 25-year prison sentence that was suspended to 15 years of service and 5 years of probation.
Viola Lynn Jackson, 59, died as a result of injuries sustained in the Jan. 20, 2017 wreck on Hampton Road near Skyway Court.
Smith was traveling north on a Hammett Road about 7:05 p.m. when she her Ford Expedition crossed the center line and struck a Honda Accord driven by Jackson. A third vehicle, a Chevrolet Malibu, rear-ended Jackson’s car and ended up on the shoulder of the road.
A 10-year-old passenger in Jackson’s car sustained serious injury and he was treated at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
“Ms. Smith’s irresponsible actions took an innocent life and I hope she thinks about the consequences of it all while she is in prison,” Assistant Solicitor Spenser Smith said.
Emergency responders smelled alcohol on Smith’s breath at the wreck scene. A blood sample taken at Spartanburg Regional revealed a blood alcohol reading of .21.
Smith’s prior criminal recorded included a 2010 conviction for driving under the influence.