A D.C. jury on Monday found a reckless driver guilty of involuntary manslaughter in a high-speed 2023 crash that killed three people on Rock Creek Parkway just moments after she fled a traffic stop in which alcohol and marijuana were seen in her car.
Jurors also convicted Nakita Walker, 46, of fleeing law enforcement and assault with a dangerous weapon in the crash that saw her reach 100 mph right before hitting a rideshare vehicle head-on. The jury acquitted Walker of a second-degree murder charge.
Driver Mohamed Kamara, 42, and passengers Jonathan Cabrera Mendez, 23, and Olvin Torres Velasquez, 22, were killed by the impact of Walker’s car.
Toxicology reports showed that Walker, who has had at least five driving under the influence cases between the District and Virginia, had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit. She also had more than $12,000 in unpaid traffic tickets when the crash happened on March 15, 2023.
Crash reconstruction expert David Plant testified that Walker had reached 100 mph as she drove north on the parkway seconds before the crash.
Mr. Plant said she was going 72 mph on the road — which has a posted speed limit of 35 mph — when she crossed the double-yellow line and slammed into Kamara’s vehicle.
Paramedics who responded to the crash testified that Walker appeared to be acting drunk. U.S. Park Police investigators found a bottle of Hennessy cognac in the back seat of her car.
Charging documents said police first stopped Ms. Walker after she sped through a red light at the intersection of 17th Street and Independence Avenue SW.
“Is there a reason you’re driving like 80 miles an hour, blowing red lights?” the officer asked, according to his body camera footage played at the trial.
Walker said she was speeding home to get to her 10-year-old son. The body camera also documented Ms. Walker’s ex-boyfriend, who was in the passenger seat, pouring out liquor from a cup as the officer approached the car.
Walker and her ex-boyfriend both spoke with the officer for several minutes, prosecutors said. But once the officer smelled alcohol and spotted a bag of marijuana on her ex-boyfriend, Walker drove away.
Walker will be sentenced June 5. She has been held at the D.C. Jail since she was charged three years ago.
