Jones sentenced to prison for involuntary manslaughter – The Taylorsville Times

A Newton woman has been convicted in a 2022 driving under the influence case in which her vehicle collided with another car, resulting in the death of a man.

During the August 12 trial in Alexander County Superior Court, Cierra Lashay Jones pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol, and four counts of aggravated assault and was sentenced by Judge Clifton Smith to 64-89 months in prison plus 16-29 months in prison.

On Sunday, May 22, 2022, at approximately 7:55 p.m., the NC State Highway Patrol responded to and investigated a fatal crash in Alexander County on NC 127 near Rink Dam Road, said Master Trooper Jeffrey S. Swagger, NCSHP traffic safety officer.

A 2012 Toyota Scion traveling north on NC 127 crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound 2008 Toyota Prius.

The driver of the Scion, then 27-year-old Cierra Leshay Jones of Newton, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken by emergency services to Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory.

The driver of the Prius, James Wallace “Jim” Thompson, 66, of Wilkesboro, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported by EMS to Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, where he succumbed to his injuries. A 63-year-old woman and three children were injured and transported by EMS to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

All passengers were wearing seat belts. The initial investigation indicates that the driver of the Scion was under the influence of alcohol. Jones was charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, driving on the left side of the road and carrying an open container.

According to several media outlets, Thompson was a former Mountain times Senior Editor and Jefferson-Post Editor. He was chief editor of the Mountain times from 1986 to 2001 and then became editor of the Jefferson-Postnow the Ashe Post and Timesfrom 2001 to 2008, the Watauga Democrat specified.