A man who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a fatal hit-and-run crash in Cedartown has been sentenced to 15 years, with the first eight years to be served in prison. According to the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, Jason Ingram pleaded guilty to two counts of First Degree Homicide by Vehicle, Driving Under the Influence, and Hit and Run.
Chief Superior Court Judge Mark Murphy sentenced Ingram to 15 years, ordering him to serve the first eight years in the Georgia Department of Corrections.
The charges stem from the early morning hours of Dec. 21, 2021, when Barry Jerome Ford was struck by a vehicle while on South Main Street in Cedartown.
Ford was discovered along the roadway and later died from his injuries. Investigators located Ingram a short time later in his pickup truck on Highway 27 South after the vehicle had been pulled onto a side road against the curb. Authorities said the truck had damage consistent with evidence found at the crash scene.
A subsequent blood test determined that Ingram was under the influence of methadone and cocaine at the time of the collision, according to prosecutors.Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Alison Karch prosecuted the case on behalf of the State.
District Attorney Jaeson Smith extended condolences to Ford’s family while emphasizing the consequences of impaired driving.”Our thoughts remain with Mr. Ford’s family,” Smith said. “While no sentence can undo the tremendous loss they have suffered, we hope this outcome provides some measure of closure for Mr. Ford’s friends and family. I want to thank the Cedartown Police Department, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Georgia State Patrol Special Collision Reconstruction Team for their dedicated efforts in investigating this case. Let this serve as a reminder: if you injure someone with a vehicle while under the influence, you will go to prison in Polk County.”
The Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office said it remains committed to seeking justice for victims and holding impaired drivers accountable for the consequences of their actions.
