A woman accused of running down a motorcyclist with her car during a fit of road rage on a South Bay freeway said she chased the motorcyclist after he kicked the side of her car during the altercation, a CHP investigator testified today.
CHP Officer Brad Clinkscales testified during the second day of a preliminary hearing for Darla Renee Jackson, charged with murder in the May 28 death of 39-year-old Zachary Buob, a U.S. Navy chief petty officer in special operations.
Clinkscales testified that Jackson told him Buob passed her on northbound Interstate 5 near Imperial Beach then slowed in front of her. Jackson, 25, said Buob got on her right side, kicked her car, flipped her off, then sped across all lanes toward eastbound state Route 54, according to Clinkscales.
The defendant told the officer that she gave chase because she wanted to exchange (insurance) information with Buob and “wasn’t going to let him do that,” Clinkscales testified.
Jackson said Buob accelerated to about 95 mph as he transitioned onto state Route 54 and she tried to keep up, Clinkscales said.
The defendant told the officer that traffic slowed and Buob tried to drive between two cars.
Jackson said she tried to stop but couldn’t avoiding hitting the back of his motorcycle and running him over, Clinkscales testified.
Clinkscales also testified that Jackson’s ex-boyfriend called authorities in June, saying she tried to run him off the road four different times after they broke up in 2009.
The preliminary hearing will wrap up Monday, at which time Judge Ana Espana will decide whether enough evidence was presented for Jackson to stand trial.
— City News Service
