Mom breaks down after pleading not guilty to killing Navy officer in fit of road rage

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Thursday, June 4, 2015
Mom breaks down after pleading not guilty to killing Navy officer in fit of road rage
A California woman accused of running over and killing a motorcyclist in fit of road rage faces up to 15 years in prison. (KGTV)

A 25-year-old California mother faces 15 years to life years in prison for allegedly running over and killing a motorcyclist in a fit of road rage last week.

Darla Renee Jackson sobbed in court on Tuesday when she plead not guilty to the murder of motorcyclist and U.S. Navy officer Zachary Buob, according to KGTV. Jackson allegedly chased and ran over Buob after a roadway dispute on Interstate 5 in Chula Vista, Calif.

"The defendant hit the motorcycle, pushed him approximately 300 feet, he then fell to the ground, as well as his motorcycle, and the defendant ran over him," Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans said.

"Per some witness statements, it appeared it was a deliberate and intentional act."

Buob, 39, was then taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

"No matter who says what, we don't know what started it and we don't know exactly what happened in those last 30 seconds," defense attorney Stephen Cline said.

RAW VIDEO: Darla Jackson's emotional court appearance

During the arraignment, Jackson was visibly upset as she rocked back-and-forth, crying, while glancing back towards her mother in the courtroom.

"She's very upset, obviously," Cline said. "She's 25 years old, she's got a 3 1/2-year-old child at home and she's charged with murder. I think that's a pretty heavy duty thing to swallow."