From The Banner · Antonio Planas · · 1m 30s
Silver Spring driver sentenced for fatal speeding crash
A 24-year-old woman will spend a year in prison after her sports car hit an SUV at twice the speed limit, killing an 85-year-old passenger.
In brief
A 24-year-old woman will spend a year in prison after her sports car hit an SUV at twice the speed limit, killing an 85-year-old passenger. Reckless speeding in residential areas can result in serious prison time and lifelong consequences for both the driver and victims' families. Originally reported by The Banner.
Woman sentenced for fatal crash
Jesica Argueta, 24, of Silver Spring was sentenced to one year in prison for a 2025 crash that killed an 85-year-old passenger when her sports car hit an SUV at twice the speed limit.
Driving at 84.5 in a 40 mph zone
On August 7, 2025, Argueta was driving a Toyota GR86 at up to 84.5 miles per hour in a 40 mile per hour zone when she struck a Toyota 4Runner at Randolph Road and Sherwood Forest Drive in Silver Spring.
Weaving through morning traffic
Before the collision at 7:44 a.m., Argueta was weaving in and out of morning rush-hour traffic, prosecutors said. The victims were driving home from church when they were struck.
Victim died two weeks later
Josephine Gieske, 85, was the front seat passenger in the SUV. She died from her injuries on August 22, 2025, two weeks after the crash. The driver also suffered serious injuries.
Guilty plea and probation terms
Argueta pleaded guilty on July 22 to vehicular manslaughter by gross negligence and second-degree assault. Judge Eric Johnson also sentenced her to five years of supervised probation after her release.
The short version
Reckless speeding in residential areas can result in serious prison time and lifelong consequences for both the driver and victims' families.
