Akron woman sentenced for deadly drunk driving crash

AKRON, Ohio (WOIO) - An Akron woman was sentenced Wednesday to six to nine years in prison for drunk driving and causing a crash that killed a 41-year-old woman.

According to the Summit County Prosecutor’s Office, Jessica Skinner, 22, of Akron, also has her driver’s license suspended for life.

On Aug. 2, Skinner pled guilty to the indictment charging her with the following:

One Count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide

One Count of Aggravated Vehicular Homicide

One Count of Operating a Vehicle While Impaired

The prosecutor’s office said just before midnight on May 12, 20233, Skinner was driving the wrong way on I-76 near South Arlington Road in Akron when she slammed head-on into a vehicle driven by 41-year-old Lisabeth Dayton.

Dayton died from injuries suffered in the crash, the prosecutor’s office said.

Skinner also suffered significant injuries and is confined to a wheelchair.

At the time of the crash, Skinner’s blood alcohol content was .248, according to the prosecutor’s office, over three times the legal limit.

“This tragedy was completely avoidable. Jessica Skinner made the decision to get behind the wheel drunk and unfortunately killed an innocent person,” said Prosecutor Walsh. “I urge people to use a designated driver or call for a ride if you are going out and drinking alcohol. This is why my office sponsors the ArriveAlive campaign several times a year in Summit County. In over five years we have provided over 3,000 free rides through ArriveAlive.”

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