NKY driver sentenced to 35 years in prison after fatal drunken accident

The video above is from FOX19 NOW's previous reporting.

COVINGTON, Ky. (WXIX) – The driver found guilty of killing a man in a December 2023 crash was sentenced Tuesday.

Kenton County Circuit Judge Patricia Sum sentenced 42-year-old Christopher Jackson to 35 years in prison for the murder of Gordon Torline.

In January, a grand jury found Jackson guilty of murder, drunken driving and other charges that led to Torline's death.

On December 22, 2023, Jackson crashed Torline's vehicle on Industrial Road in Florence around 4 p.m

Officers found Jackson walking on the street near his Lincoln MKT and Torline unconscious under his Mazda sedan.

Rescuers had to cut Torline out from under his dashboard. Once free, he was flown to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

At the scene, officers noticed that Jackson smelled of alcohol, was slurring his words, and was having difficulty following instructions.

Bodycam footage shows Jackson failing a sobriety test after the accident and hurling profanities at the victim.

According to prosecutors, Jackson's BAC was 0.241, three times the legal limit in Kentucky.

In a joint investigation, Independence police and the Kenton County Police Department's Serious Accident Reconstruction Team determined that Jackson struck his car tires against a curb before veering out of the lane.

Jackson's vehicle then crossed into Torline's path, causing the accident, police said.

Additionally, police said Jackson was driving 99 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone.

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