An Aiken man has been charged with felony DUI in connection with his girlfriend’s death last month, according to authorities.
Brian West, 32, was driving a Dodge Challenger on Dec. 16 with girlfriend Khadijah Jackson in the passenger seat. West was traveling south on Pine Log Road when it collided with a 2002 Nissan that was traveling east on Wagener Road, authorities said.
Jackson, 28, suffered critical injuries and died three days later at Wellstar MCG Health. The S.C. Highway Patrol investigated the wreck, which revealed that West was impaired, leading to his arrest Tuesday for felony driving under the influence resulting in a death. If convicted, he faces a possible fine of up to $25,100, a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in prison, and up to 25 years in prison.
His formal arrest came just one day before Jackson was laid to rest after a funeral at Old Storm Branch Baptist Church. According to an obituary, Jackson graduated from Fox Creek High School and was working at Kimberly Clark Corporation. The obituary lists West as a devoted friend.
In a Facebook post on Dec. 21, West remembered his girlfriend with photos of the two of them together.
“Never thought I’ll be making (this) post baby,” he said. “I really don’t even know what to say. I love you forever and forever will keep your name alive. I just wish the car would’ve hit my side.”
West pledged to give her the best homecoming service. “We goin to make sure u get laid to rest right beside yo mother too,” he said. “I will never forget about u.”
After the Dec. 16 wreck, officers cited West for operating vehicle without license in possession and failure to maintain proof of insurance in motor vehicle. He has a long history of traffic-related offenses in his adult life, including careless driving, failure to stop for blue light, failure to stop at a stop sign, no seat belt, following too closely, speeding, driving under suspension and transporting alcohol in motor vehicle with seal broken. He has also been convicted of malicious injury to personal property.
