Jo Jackson gets 6-month in jail for work zone death

10:25 AM, Jun 7, 2012   |    comments
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) - A Washington County Circuit Court judge has sentenced a woman to six months in jail in connection with the death of a city worker.

Jo Jackson pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor negligent homicide and third-degree battery as part of an agreement with prosecutors. Judge William Storey also placed Jackson on year of probation.

The Northwest Arkansas Times (http://bit.ly/KyhPS4) reports that Jackson was driving her car into a construction zone on Sept. 21 when she struck Jackie Luper and another city employee who were preparing to work on Joyce Boulevard. Luper died the following day.

A toxicology report determined that a prescription sleeping drug, Zolpidem, was detected in Jackson's system soon after the accident.

Jackson's attorney, W.H. Taylor, told the judge Jackson had taken Zolpidem shortly before the accident.

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Information from: Northwest Arkansas Times, http://www.nwaonline.com

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