ST. LOUIS - Prosecutors are taking a second look at a deadly 2023 crash on the Jefferson Barracks Bridge after new evidence emerged in a civil lawsuit, giving the victim’s family renewed hope for criminal charges.

Adam Whittington, 28, died July 30, 2023, a day after his car was struck on I-255 in a construction zone. 

“We have a big loving family and to lose someone so young, it was just hard,” Whittington's aunt, Jessica Bain said.

Whittington, who was intoxicated, had been in a minor accident and was pulled over on the side of the bridge when a Jeep driven by Jennifer Jackson rear-ended his vehicle, sending it into a concrete barrier. Whittington was pulled from his crushed car with a faint heartbeat but died the next day.

Police said Whittington had several bottles of alcohol in his car. They say they found marijuana in Jackson's vehicle. Her blood alcohol level was zero, but she failed a field sobriety test. A blood sample later revealed methadone and Xanax in her system. She was initially charged with driving while intoxicated, a charge Whittington’s family believed was too lenient.

Attorneys for the family filed a civil lawsuit and began digging deeper into the crash. Johnny Simon with the Simon Law Firm said data from Jackson’s vehicle and depositions showed she was speeding in a construction zone and never braked before impact. Dashcam video presented in court showed her Jeep drifting across lane lines multiple times.

Jackson settled the civil lawsuit during trial, but Simon said the family wanted more accountability. At their request, he turned over evidence to the St. Louis County prosecutor’s office.

“I feel like we’re starting all over a little bit, but we’re happy to have that happen and we’ll go as long as we have to,” Bain said.

Multiple sources told FOX 2 that a new criminal case has been filed against Jackson. Court records are currently sealed so we cannot confirm what charge she may be facing.