A Southeast D.C. woman has been arrested and charged in a fatal hit-and-run in D.C. last month.
Chatara Sophia Johnson, 26, was charged with involuntary manslaughter Wednesday.
Johnson was speeding on Southern Avenue SE when the car she was driving struck 68-year-old Faith Josephine Pines of Fort Washington, Maryland, the night of April 28. Pines was pronounced dead at Medstar Washington Hospital Center early the next morning.
Johnson fled the scene and reported the car stolen, according to a police affidavit. She said the car, a 1999 Mercedes, was owned by her brother-in-law and was stolen in the afternoon. She told police that she had no knowledge of the accident.
Detectives said they did not find evidence of vehicle theft at the location Johnson said the car was stolen. Police found the Mercedes unoccupied about 1:30 a.m. April 29 on Benning Road NE.
According to detectives, Johnson's brother-in-law contacted a police officer to inform her of Johnson's involvement in the hit-and-run.
Detectives said Johnson then confessed to driving the Mercedes at the time of the accident. She said she was driving at between 50 and 55 mph in a 30 mph zone. In a recorded interview, Johnson said she slammed the car's brakes when she saw the pedestrian but was not able to stop in time.
