Fatal Montco Street Race: Woman Charged In Rainy Tragedy

NORRISTOWN, PA — A woman who killed another driver while street racing her car in Norristown has been charged with homicide by vehicle, the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office announced Friday.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 p.m. back on June 26 at the intersection of West Main Street and Chain Street.

Ashley Jones, 20, of Norristown, was driving her Toyota Highlander on West Main Street when she pulled alongside a gray Toyota Camry at a stoplight, police said.

The two cars began racing each other in the midst of a heavy rainstorm, with an 11-year-old child in Jones' passenger seat, according to authoriites.

Jones reached 80 miles per hour in the 25 mile per hour zone when she hit the bend at George Street, lost control, and spiralled into oncoming traffic.

She then hit several vehicles, including two Honda Civics and a Mercedes, police said, before her vehicle came to rest in front of Domino's Pizza.

Francisco Salgado-Hernandez, 31, of Norristown, a back seat passenger in the first Honda Civic hit by Jones, was found by first responders face down in the back seat in cardiac arrest. He died shortly thereafter.

A front seat passenger in that Honda sustained "critical" injuries, and five other individuals involved in the incident, including the 11-year-old girl, sustained moderate injuries.

Jones was not hurt.

“Drag racing is very different than speeding,” DA Kevin Steele said in a statement. “It’s hard to imagine anything more dangerous and reckless than racing in bad weather, in a busy business district, at more than three times the posted speed limit."

The lengthy investigation resulted in charges of homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle, reckless endangerment, and slew of other counts against Jones. She turned herself in to Norristown Police and bail was set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 5.