Jacksonville Woman Found Guilty of DUI Manslaughter in 2016 Crash

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Lark Dana Hodge, 23, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of Driving Under the Influence – Manslaughter. Hodge now faces a maximum of 15 years in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled before the Honorable Linda McCallum on June 24, 2019.

In the early morning hours of May 29, 2016, Hodge was driving southbound on Heckscher Drive when she initiated a head-on collision with a vehicle being driven northbound by Derrick Jones. Jones died at the scene; Hodge was transported to UF Health with serious injuries. Witnesses told law enforcement on the scene that alcohol may have been a factor and that Hodge, who was under legal drinking age at the time of the crash, said she had been drinking and fell asleep. According to medical records, Hodge’s Blood Alcohol Level at the time of the crash was determined to be .094 based on blood drawn at the hospital and by law enforcement.

The case was investigated by the Florida Highway Patrol and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys John Kalinowski and Christina Stifler.