A motorist who killed a Navy petty officer in National City during a “road rage” incident in 2015 was sentenced April 14 to six years in state prison.
Many friends and family of Zacharias “Zach” Buob, 39, attended the sentencing of Darla Renee Jackson, 27, by Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Francis Devaney.
Jackson pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of Buob, who was killed May 28, 2015, at 5:30 p.m. after Jackson ran over him after he fell off his motorcycle.
A murder charge was dismissed against Jackson. Devaney gave Jackson credit for serving 790 days in jail and she must serve 85 percent of the 6-year term.
Jackson, of Imperial Beach, repeatedly shook and sobbed as she heard the sentence. She has been tearful at most of her hearings. Probation was denied and she was fined $2,024.
In the incident, Buob got annoyed at Jackson’s driving and kicked her Nissan Altima. Deputy District Attorney Laura Evans said Jackson chased the victim crossing all lanes of traffic on state Route 54 at a high rate of speed.
“She had every opportunity to change her mind and not chase my brother across two freeways,” said Buob’s sister, Andrea Cisneros.
“Her choices took my brother from me. Took an uncle from a little boy and he’s never gonna remember him,” said Cisneros tearfully.
Both were driving on Interstate 5 and both got onto state Route 54 into National City.
Jackson followed Buob too closely, and somehow her car bumper connected with the motorcycle and lifted up the back tire, according to testimony in the preliminary hearing.
Buob was in the Navy 20 years and was a special warfare combatant-craft crewman at Coronado. His obituary suggested donations to the SBC Zacharias Buob Navy SEAL Foundation.
