Arkansas Woman Gets 6 Month Jail Term in Work Zone Death

A Washington County Circuit Court judge has sentenced an Arkansas 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 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.