Woman charged with reckless driving
The Fairfax County Police Department identified the driver of a 2008 Nissan Sentra that crashed into four pedestrians in Annandale May 20 as Joana Konadu, 41, of Annandale.
Konadu was charged with “reckless driving: failure to keep vehicle under control.” She was issued a summons and released on recognizance.
She struck the pedestrians in a parking lot at 7263 Maple Place One of the pedestrians, community activist, Eileen Garnett, died from her injuries.
Related story: Eileen Garnett dies from injuries in crash
Detectives determined Konadu was driving north on Maple Place when she dropped food and spilled a drink inside her car. As she attempted to recover the dropped items, she lost control of the vehicle and crossed the median.
The Nissan left the roadway and drove onto the south sidewalk of Maple Place, where it struck four people who were part of a group discussing Annandale improvement projects.
This is the seventh pedestrian-related fatality in Fairfax County in 2022. There were five pedestrian fatalities at this point in 2021.
15 responses to “Woman charged with reckless driving”
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Thank you for sharing this news.
The charge does not seem to fit the full-scale and scope of the alleged crime. One person dead, others badly injured and hospitalized.
My sense is that if the accused has a conscience; their conscience will cause them significantly more grief over the remainder of their life then this charge of “reckless driving.”
I agree 100%, reckless driving is no punishment for killing someone over spilled food.
Susie – the charge isn’t just “reckless driving” like you might get in traffic court. They charged her with a class 1 misdemeanor. Specifically, the charge is associated with reckless driving that results in grave bodily harm to an individual who had legal right to be present.
VA code 46.2-816.1. Careless driving and infliction of injury on vulnerable road users; penalty.
Jeffrey, yes I do know.
I know that Class 1 misdemeanors are the most serious misdemeanors in Virginia. A Class 1 misdemeanor is punishable by up to 12 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
In my view, the charge does not seem to fit the full-scale and scope of the alleged crime. One person dead, others badly injured and hospitalized.
It is a free country Jeffrey, and you may feel differently, that is fine with me.
I will add that if my negligent actions led to the death of one person and the hospitalization of others, I would have a hard time living with myself.
I thought that this would have resulted in an involuntary manslaughter charge? This seems to be much more serious and I would say, the driver showed a disregard for human life.
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter4/section18.2-36.1/#:~:text=Any%20person%20who%2C%20as%20a,be%20guilty%20of%20involuntary%20manslaughter.
§ 18.2-36.1. Certain conduct punishable as involuntary manslaughter.
B. If, in addition, the conduct of the defendant was so gross, wanton and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life, he shall be guilty of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than one nor more than 20 years, one year of which shall be a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment.
In Virginia, involuntary manslaughter must have the driver under the influence while causing the death of another person. That’s why the charge is reckless driving instead. I’m sure the judge will have the driver serve some time in jail, since the outcome was so devastating and the cause was so preventable.
One more thing –
§ 46.2-868. Reckless driving; penalties.
A. Every person convicted of reckless driving under the provisions of this article is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
B. Every person convicted of reckless driving under the provisions of this article who, when he committed the offense, (i) was driving without a valid operator’s license due to a suspension or revocation for a moving violation and, (ii) as the sole and proximate result of his reckless driving, caused the death of another, is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
“The most serious misdemeanor” is still a misdemeanor. This driver killed someone because of her completely irresponsible behavior. If she can’t be charged with manslaughter, this is another example of woefully inadequate Virginia law.
This is a woefully inadequate charge for the death and injury that resulted from this person’s recklessness.
I am encouraged that prosecution is forthcoming in this case. It boggles my mind why a driver would not be able to stop a vehicle immediately in this urban environment, even if that driver engaged in distracting behavior and spilled something.
An aspect that might also be worth mentioning is the significant difference in how drivers observe the crosswalk law in different parts of Fairfax County. Along the W&OD there is increasing compliance to the requirement to stop for pedestrians. In Annandale and Baileys Crossroads, driver compliance nears zero. Arlington has weekly crosswalk stings. I have NEVER seen or heard of a crosswalk sting in the similar-sized Annandale. It would be catching fish in a barrel. It might also help make Annandale a safer place.
Calling the driver a “woman” is sexist. Howsabout just saying the driver or the human.
Dork
Don’t be ridiculous!
So was her phone confiscated? Most likely a culprit too in an avoidable tragedy and death. If distracted driving results in death it should be prosecuted as person-slaughter. Very disappointed in Fairfax County police – another death months later….
“Person-slaughter” should be “intrahuman-induced non-consensual life cessation action”