LANCASTER, PA — A Lancaster woman was sentenced to nine to 22 years in state prison Thursday after being convicted of causing a high-speed DUI crash in 2021 that killed her 12-year-old son and seriously injured two others, according to Lancaster County prosecutors.
Jennifer Cheri Johnson, 39, of the 600 block of 4th Street, was found guilty earlier this week of multiple charges, including homicide by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, and endangering the welfare of children. The crash occurred on February 23, 2021, near the intersection of Lititz Pike and Keller Avenue.
Prosecutors said Johnson, who had a blood alcohol concentration of .262%—more than three times the legal limit—was driving over two and a half times the posted speed limit when her car fishtailed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another vehicle. Her son, seated unrestrained in the front passenger seat, died hours later of blunt force trauma and a torn aorta. Two occupants of the other car sustained severe injuries.
During the sentencing, President Judge David Ashworth said Johnson’s decision to drive while heavily intoxicated turned her vehicle into a “weapon.” While crediting her with 19 months of house arrest served prior to sentencing, Judge Ashworth underscored the gravity of her actions.
Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo requested a harsh sentence, citing Johnson’s history of two prior DUIs and describing the devastating impact her choices had on her family and the other victims. “In his final hours, her son wanted the safety of a mother’s love, but she was too incapacitated to be there for him,” Linardo said.
Johnson apologized in court, expressing disbelief at her survival and regret for her son’s death. Her family asked for leniency, highlighting her struggles with mental health and substance abuse and her role as the mother of three surviving daughters.