Washington, D.C

Driver charged in triple-fatal crash had valid license, despite past DUIs

Published

12 months ago

June 6, 2023

Driver charged in triple-fatal crash had valid license, despite past DUIs

A U.S. Park Police officer pulled over Nakita Walker on Rock Creek Parkway, telling the woman with five prior DUIs that she had been traveling almost 80 mph and ordering her passenger to pour out the contents of a red plastic cup, video of the encounter shows. But as the officer walked back to his own vehicle and sat down, Walker sped away — reaching speeds of up to 100 mph, authorities said, before she plowed head-on into a Honda less than a mile away.

At a hearing in D.C. Superior Court on Tuesday, authorities showed graphic footage and revealed new details of the crash that killed three people, and a defense attorney publicly confirmed that Walker had a valid license at the time of the crash — though D.C. law suggests that her convictions should have resulted in it being revoked.

The deadly encounter already had sparked outrage over whether city officials were doing enough to keep bad drivers off the roads; at the time, the SUV Walker drove had more than 40 outstanding traffic tickets with fines that totaled $12,300. Prosecutors noted in court Tuesday that Walker, 43, had racked up five DUIs since 2009. Her most recent conviction and sentence came in 2022.

“She seems to make a habit of doing this,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Carter said. “She’s a danger to this community given her criminal history.”

A Lyft driver picked up 2 friends after night out in D.C. None made it home.

Killed in the crash were Mohamed Kamara, a 42-year-old Lyft driver working extra hours to save up for a trip to see his wife and daughter in Sierra Leone; and 23-year-old friends Olvin Torres Velasquez and Jonathan Cabrera Mendez, who requested a ride after a late dinner in the District.

About 20 family members and supporters of the victims sat in the courtroom and began wiping tears as photos of Kamara’s Honda were shown. The entire front and middle of the sedan were smashed and burned, leaving it virtually unrecognizable.

Walker, charged with second-degree murder in connection with the deaths, also wiped away tears.

Authorities said Walker’s blood alcohol level at the time of the crash was .10, above the legal limit of .08. She also tested positive for marijuana.

The D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles has long declined to address whether Walker had a valid license, though a defense attorney asserted in court that she did.

Responding to inquiries from D.C. Council Transportation Committee Chairman Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), DMV Director Gabriel Robinson said in a Monday letter that a person who has three alcohol-related offenses within five years would have their license revoked, with the option — but not a guarantee — to seek reinstatement after five years. The DMV generally handles the revocation process after being notified by the courts of a conviction.

But Robinson said that officials found “technical changes to the file transfer” that “may have affected DMV’s ability to process the files” related to Walker. He said the DMV and Superior Court officials are working to improve how such files are monitored, as well as ways to improve communication between the court and DMV employees. A D.C. Superior Court spokesman has asserted that his records showed the motor vehicle agency had been properly notified of Walker’s three past convictions for driving under the influence in D.C.

Allen spokesman Erik Salmi said Tuesday that his office plans to ask for more clarity regarding the “total universe of eligible suspensions.”

Robinson said the DMV suspended or revoked more than 2,000 licenses during fiscal 2021 and more than 1,900 licenses in fiscal 2022. As of Monday, the agency had revoked 1,029 licenses so far this year.

When the Park Police officer pulled over Walker at 1:34 a.m. just north of the Kennedy Center, he told her, “You were flying,” as he relayed her speed.

Walker told the officer that “I left my 10-year-old son at home by himself” and that she was trying to get to the house.

Court documents asserted that Walker and her passenger had been drinking Hennessy cognac. The officer told them that they were not allowed to have an open container of alcohol while driving.

Then, as the officer walked back to his own car, Walker sped away.

At 1:39 a.m., about a mile from where she was stopped, Walker’s Sirius XM radio called 911 to alert authorities of a crash, Park Police Detective Kevin Turner testified.

Walker told police later that she sped off because she believed her boyfriend had an illegal firearm, and she did not want him to get arrested.

Turner said a firearm was not found at the scene of the crash.

Walker’s public defender, Dana Page, said her client was hospitalized for weeks following the accident and still needed physical therapy and various medications, and asserted she was not receiving the proper treatment at the D.C. jail. Page argued that her client’s alcohol level was “relatively low,” albeit over the legal limit. In court, Walker used a cane to support herself.

Judge Robert Okun ordered Walker to remain in jail until trial, citing her repeated DUIs. “This is an incredibly serious offense,” Okun said. “She was ordered not to get behind a wheel after consuming alcohol, and now three decedents were killed.”

A follow-up hearing was scheduled for August.

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Washington, D.C

They’ve Got the Power: Washington, D.C., USL Super League Club Unveils Name, Logo

Published

14 mins ago

May 21, 2024

Press Room

The newest professional women’s soccer franchise in the United States is ready to power up with their new name and crest.

Washington, D.C.’s entry in the USL Super League unveiled its identity on Monday, May 20. They’ll be known as DC Power Football Club, or Power FC for short, and unveiled a striking black-and-red crest.

The crest consists of a black and red shield with an eagle wing cutting through the middle “reflecting our attacking style of play.” The negative space in the wing has three lightning bolt shapes to represent the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. At the top of the shield, “POWER FC” is written out in white, with three red stars underneath to “evoke the iconic DC city flag.” And in the red bottom half of the shield, there’s an interlocking “DC” monogram.

Courtesy @DCPowerFC / Twitter

“This is a monumental day for our club and the integration into the community as we officially launch our team’s name and crest,” said club president Jordan Stuart on their website. “Power FC’s identity is deeply rooted in the dynamic spirit and resilience of its hometown, Washington, DC. As our nation’s center of power, Washington, DC bears a unique responsibility. The responsibility to lead. To effect change. To inspire. This energy drives Power Football Club.”

The black, red and white color scheme may be intentionally evocative of Major League Soccer side D.C. United as a partnership has been established between the two clubs. Devin Talbott, a part-owner of D.C. United, is also part of Power FC’s ownership group, along with Angel Reese of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

Power FC will play their home games at Audi Field, which they’ll share with D.C. United. The USL Super League will kick off in August 2024 and continue until spring 2025 with a winter break, but a detailed schedule has not yet been released.

The initial eight teams for the 2024-25 USL Super League season include:

Other markets identified for future expansion include: Chattanooga, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Madison, Wisconsin; Oakland, California; Palm Beach, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; and Tucson, Arizona.

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Washington, D.C

Enstrom among select few helicopters in Washington, D.C. flyover

Published

7 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Press Room

Enstrom among select few helicopters in Washington, D.C. flyover

On May 11, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation had the distinct honor of taking part in a general aviation (GA) flyover of the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The flyover was in commemoration of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)’s 85th anniversary.

The diverse group of aircraft included 15 chapters of planes, telling the story of GA in America, including aviation’s Golden Age, the postwar boom, and all the way up to modern business jets and wildfire-fighting airplanes.

Of the 60 or so aircraft that participated, only three were helicopters, distinguishing Enstrom as part of a select company.

“AOPA sent us an invitation back in January,” said Enstrom chief commercial officer Dennis Martin. “From there, I had to go through multiple briefings and background checks from the FAA and Secret Service. It was a fairly involved process”

FAA personnel and AOPA staff timed the operation to the second, organizing the flight based on aircraft and pilot capabilities. Officials shut down Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for an hour to make way for the flyover.

Martin flew the Enstrom 480B from Menominee, Michigan, to Frederick Municipal Airport in Maryland, where he then flew down the Potomac along the designated flyover route.

After reaching Roosevelt Island, Martin took a turn at the Lincoln Memorial, flew down Independence Avenue, and dipped south at the Hirshhorn Museum. Martin and his fellow aviators flew at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, all just a half mile away from the White House, one of Washington, D.C.’s most restricted flight zones.

“It was surreal. Millions of people see these landmarks from the ground every year, but unless you’re the president, nobody gets to see them from the air,” said Martin. “And for the locals, they might typically only spot military aircraft or massive airliners in the airspace above D.C., so for 60 smaller airplanes and helicopters to fill the skies, it must have made for a unique and breathtaking experience.”

Following the flyover, Martin exited the restricted airspace and flew back up to Frederick. He recognized Enstrom’s participation in the flyover as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“But if AOPA ever hosts a celebration like this again, I’d accept an invitation in a heartbeat,” added Martin. “My 11-year-old daughter had a blast flying alongside me.”

For anyone unable to watch the flyover live, a rebroadcast is available here. You can also watch a highlight reel from the event here.

This press release was prepared and distributed by Enstrom.

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Washington, D.C

Honor Flight Continues Salute to Veterans in Washington D.C

Published

14 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Press Room

Honor Flight Continues Salute to Veterans in Washington D.C

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) – The Minnesota North Dakota Honor Flight continues as veterans from the region celebrate their service in Washington D.C. 102 veterans loaded onto buses and visited several museums and memorials on Monday; first visiting the National Archives where there would be able to see historic documents and relics such as the Declaration of Independence.

Navy Veteran, Robert Leslie reflected on the trip thus far outside the Navy Memorial.

“It’s awesome, seeing the World War 2, and the Iwo Jima and the archives and now the Navy.. It’s exciting. It’s exceeded my expectations.”

Leslie remembers his service fondly, taking pride in his service to his country.

“I would gladly do it again, I was in ‘65-69 during Vietnam and I’d gladly do it again, i have no regrets whatsoever going into the service// It’s fun and talk about some of our experiences in the service, year, it’s kind of neat, yeah, find out what other people did, yeah.”

Veterans from the Vietnam War, The Korean War, and even a veteran from World War 2 were chaperoned across the Nation’s Capital by dozens of honor flight volunteers. ND/MN Honor Flight Vice President Lori Ishaug says that organizing and coordinating this trip is her way of giving back to the veterans.

“For the love of the country, for the love of the veterans and really if the veterans didn’t do what they did we wouldn’t be here and this is our way of giving back and thanking them, plus the two sisters on either side of me are veterans so I grew up with, you know, the military family so for me personally it’s just my way of giving back,” said Ishaug who also volunteers with here sisters, Susan Schoeder and Diane Modrow.

The trip will conclude Tuesday with visits to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Korean Memorial, and Fort McHenry before flying back to Hector International Airport in Fargo Tuesday afternoon.

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