LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) — A Columbiana man was sentenced Friday in connection to a 2023 chase that resulted in a deadly crash.
“If there’s a case that demands a high sentence, this is it,” said Ryan Weikart, chief assistant prosecutor.
Gerald Jackson pleaded guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide, failure to comply with a police officer and operating a vehicle under the influence, among other charges.
The head-on crash took Jennifer Hunley’s life and left her son, Daryn Crozier, with lifelong injuries.
“The day I found out about this accident, my heart broke into a million pieces,” said Michelle Bell, Hunley’s sister.
Jackson teared up in the Lisbon courtroom as he learned his fate.
On August 6, 2023, Jackson’s three-county crime spree, which involved the theft of several vehicles , ultimately resulted in the Hanoverton woman’s death.
Jackson tested positive for methamphetamine, amphetamines, fentanyl and marijuana after the crash.
“My client took something and does not remember much of his crime spree,” said Paul Conn, Jackson’s attorney. “My client is not necessarily a good man but he is not a terrible man.”
“[Your] decision to drive while on drugs took the life of our son’s mother, and the life and love of mine,” said Bradley Crozier, Daryn’s father.
Jackson led police on a chase with speeds in the triple digits before hitting Hunley and her 11-year-old son on Teegarden Road in Columbiana County.
“On August 6th, I talked to my sister on the phone, and she said she was coming to my job to have lunch and she never showed up,” said Tabitha Townsend, Hunley’s sister.
Weikart says Jackson didn’t slow down until seconds before the crash on the winding, two-lane country road.
“She saw what was coming but she had nowhere to go on that road,” he said.
Both Hunley and her son were severely injured. Hunley died after several surgeries and 43 days in hospice.
Daryn has life-altering injuries.
“No child should ever have to go through that just because someone decided to make poor choices. See, he had a choice,” said Tiffeny Townsend, Hunley’s sister.
Hunley’s family says she was funny and strong-willed. Her sisters say she survived several open-heart surgeries.
Daryn was her miracle child.
“She was a shining light in the room. She was a shining light in our lives and you took that light away from us,” Crozier said.
Jackson was sentenced to a minimum of 15 years and 9 months in jail. He has 398 days of credit for time served.
Some of those sentences are indefinite and could be extended.
He will also lose his driver’s license for life.
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