Woman charged in fatal April crash on Clifford Avenue
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Rochester Police Department has filed charges relating to an April motor vehicle accident that killed a 58-year-old man.
34-year-old Tashara Willis has been charged with two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide and several other charges for the April 4 crash.
On April 4, around midnight, authorities responded to reports of a head-on collision on Clifford Avenue. 58-year-old Otis Johnson was driving when the vehicle being driven by Willis struck his vehicle head-on. Johnson died of his injuries at the scene. Willis was seriously injured and admitted to the hospital for weeks after the crash.
The investigation found that before the accident, Willis had left a nearby bar and was speeding against another vehicle on Clifford Avenue at a speed of over 80 miles per hour. Willis is said by police to have been under the influence of drugs and alcohol and was allegedly driving with a license that had been revoked due to two previous DWI offenses.
Willis was also found to be in possession of 20 bags of cocaine the night of the accident.
In addition to the vehicular homicide charges, Willis is also charged with the second degree manslaughter, felony DWI, DWI exceeding a BAC of .08%, DWAI- Drugs, DWAI with combined drugs and alcohol, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and violation of ignition interlock device.
Willis surrendered to police on Wednesday morning and was arraigned in Monroe County Court.
Due to an extensive medical condition, Willis was released without bail and is scheduled to be back in court on August 5.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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