Point Breeze Fatal Crash Suspect Surrenders To Police

POINT BREEZE (KDKA) - Five months after a woman was killed in a crash that sheared the roof off of a car, charges have been filed against the person police say caused that crash.

The woman was a passenger in the car when it hit a utility pole in Point Breeze in March.

Tyrone Jackson, 30, of Garfield, walked into City Court Tuesday morning, to turn himself in, accompanied by his attorney.

Police say Jackson had allegedly been drinking before he struck a utility pole near the intersection of North Dallas and Penn Avenue in March.

Briauna Slaughter, 21, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was thrown from the vehicle and was pronounced dead at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital.

"He is heartbroken over this. He loved Briauna and he wants to do what's right," said defense attorney Blaine Jones. "He learned of the arrest warrant last night. He contacted me immediately last night and here we are turning him in as quickly as possible."

Jackson was injured and went through a long recovery.

"He's endured a lot of surgeries, a lot of them," said Jones. "When I met him, I think he had 50 staples in his head or something like that."

Police say Jackson and Slaughter had been drinking at a local tavern. Jackson is also charged with drug possession.

"I don't have anything to say just yet, I haven't gotten the police criminal complaint. As you know, we have to defend what's on the four corners of the document, not the entire universe, so when the time is appropriate, we'll get the police criminal complaint and we'll put together our defense," Jones said. "He cared about her deeply and passionately and he's heart broken, no matter what goes on with the criminal justice system, he loved her."

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