Woodland woman ordered to pay $2.5M in restitution after I-5 DUI crash involving weed

A Woodland woman was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to pay more than $2.5 million in restitution Friday after a traffic accident in 2018, where she was under the influence of marijuana.

In a news release, the Yolo County District Attorney’s Office said Brooklyn Johnson, 19, pleaded no contest in December to felony DUI charges, wrong way driving and injuring several people.

The accident occurred on Oct. 19, 2018, when Johnson was allegedly driving against traffic on Interstate 5 at 4:20 a.m. and crashed into another car head-on, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Witnesses told police they saw Johnson driving erratically before the crash and saw sparks trailing from a tire.

The driver of the other vehicle suffered severe injuries, resulting the $2.5 million restitution.

The passenger in Johnson’s car was knocked unconscious by the crash and also suffered severe injuries.

Blood analysis of Johnson showed that she had marijuana active in her system, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

“This is an unfortunate reminder that consuming drugs is just as dangerous as alcohol when getting behind the wheel,” District Attorney Jeff Reisig said in a prepared statement. “Our office is firmly committed to education, prevention, and enforcement of DUI related offenses.”