A Hyattsville woman responsible for the deaths of two children has been sentenced to four months in prison.
Olga Lugo Jiminez, 52, pled guilty in April to failing to stop at a pedestrian crosswalk, which caused her vehicle to fatally strike 5-year-old Sky Sosa and 10-year-old Shalom Joy Mbah.
The terrible incident occurred on November 20, 2023, while both youngsters were walking to Riverdale Elementary School with Sosa’s father.
Sosa’s father was also hit but survived.
Jiminez was not charged until May 28, 2024.
Initially, she faced two counts of criminally negligent manslaughter; however, court records show that the indictment was changed on April 29, nearly two weeks after Jiminez pleaded guilty to lesser crimes.
Jiminez admitted admission to the lowered counts, which carried a maximum jail sentence of 60 days per count.
As a result, between the two victims, County Circuit Court Judge Judy L. Woodall decided to sentence Jiminez to 120 days in jail.
“The loss of these two children is a devastating reminder of how critical it is for drivers to remain vigilant and responsible behind the wheel,” said Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson. “They were simply walking to school – something countless children and their parents do every day. While today’s sentence follows the sentencing guidelines set by the State, it does not begin to reflect the depth of this loss for the Sosa and Mbah families. Their lives have been forever impacted because of this heartbreaking tragedy, and our hearts remain with them during this incredibly difficult time.”
Mbah’s family then sued Jiminez for wrongful death. The civil litigation is still proceeding.
