LANCASTER, PA — Jennifer Johnson, a 38-year-old resident of Lancaster city, entered a no contest plea on Wednesday to 22 charges related to a deadly DUI crash in February 2021. The crash, which occurred in Manheim Township, resulted in the tragic deaths of her 11-year-old son and her unborn child.
Johnson, who resides on the 600 block of 4th Street, faced multiple felony charges, including aggravated assault of an unborn child, homicide by vehicle while DUI, and endangering the welfare of children. Additionally, she also pled no contest to six misdemeanors and seven summary offenses.
The incident took place on February 23, 2021, around 8:26 p.m., when Johnson’s vehicle, a green Honda Accord, was involved in a collision on the bridge near Lititz Pike and Keller Avenue. According to police, dashcam footage from a witness’s vehicle captured Johnson’s car fishtailing into oncoming traffic and colliding head-on with a black Toyota Highlander.
Both Johnson and her son were extracted from their vehicle by emergency responders. While being attended to in an ambulance, Johnson exhibited signs of alcohol impairment, including a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech. A subsequent blood test revealed a BAC of 0.262%, significantly over the legal limit of 0.08%.
Her son suffered severe injuries, including a collapsed lung and aortic dissection, and was airlifted to a Philadelphia hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The case is pending sentencing by Lancaster County Judge David Ashworth, following the completion of a pre-sentence investigation. The tragic incident highlights the severe consequences of impaired driving and has deeply affected the local community.