Reginald Johnson Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide in Washington DC

A Philadelphia man has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with a vehicular homicide in Washington DC.

Reginald Johnson, 31, of Philadelphia, PA, pleaded guilty on June 30, 2023, to involuntary manslaughter (criminal negligence) and assault with a dangerous weapon in the death of one passenger, Carlos Christian, and the injury of another passenger, Camila Selman.

According to the Government’s evidence, on January 15, 2023, around 6:10 p.m., Johnson drove his Jeep eastbound into the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue, Northwest and 15th Street, N.W., crashing into an Uber driver in a Toyota Corolla who was turning left across eastbound traffic lanes onto 15th Street, NW. Johnson reached a speed of 61 miles per hour shortly before the crash, more than twice the 25 miles per hour speed limit.

Johnson had been drinking alcoholic beverages at Mission Bar from approximately 1:24 p.m. to 5:46 p.m. before choosing to get behind the wheel. His breath alcohol content was 0.10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath at 9:20 p.m. on the day of the crash.

The defendant faces a sentence of up to 12 years in prison at his sentencing hearing on October 13, 2023. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Interim Chief Ashan Benedict commended the work of Detective William Lee and others from MPD’s Major Crash Unit who investigated the case in Washington, D.C.

In announcing the plea, U.S. Attorney Graves and Interim Chief Benedict acknowledged the efforts of Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter, of the Homicide section, who is prosecuting the case.

Defendant: Reginald Johnson

Criminal Charges: Involuntary Manslaughter (criminal negligence), Assault with a Dangerous Weapon

City and State: Washington, DC

Date: January 15, 2023 (crime date), June 30, 2023 (plea date), October 13, 2023 (sentencing date)

Sentence: Up to 12 years in prison

Case Details: Reginald Johnson, 31, of Philadelphia, PA, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and assault with a dangerous weapon in connection with a vehicular homicide in Washington, DC. Johnson was driving his Jeep at a speed of 61 miles per hour when he crashed into an Uber driver in a Toyota Corolla who was turning left across eastbound traffic lanes. Johnson had been drinking before getting behind the wheel and had a breath alcohol content of 0.10 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath at the time of the crash.

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