Man arrested in Arlington crash that killed girl

Police: Drunken driver was traveling 120 mph in 30 mph zone

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A 52-year-old Jacksonville man has been arrested in connection with a crash that killed a 12-year-old girl in April.

Stanley Jefson is charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide and other charges in the April 4 crash at Townsend Boulevard and Merrill Road in Arlington.

Investigators said Jefson caused a multi-car crash that killed Savannah Pfeiffer, who was a rear passenger in the extended cab of a pickup truck.

Rescuers had to cut the occupants out of one of four cars involvedin a crash in Arlington late Friday afternoon.

Police said Jefson's car crashed into the rear of the truck at a high speed, and the truck hit another vehicle in front of it.

Police said Jefson had a blood alcohol level of .279, three times the legal limit, and also had Xanax in his system. Investigators said he blamed others for not getting out of his way.

His speed at the time of the crash was over 120 mph in a 30 mph zone, and he never slowed down before hitting the truck, police said.

Eight others besides Pfeiffer and Jefson were injured in the crash.

Pfeiffer died a week after the crash from blunt force trauma to the head.

Jefson had three previous arrests on DUI charges.

Criminal defense attorney Gene Nichols, who is not related to the case, said it's likely Jefson's defense lawyer will try to keep the blood alcohol results out of the trial.

"His lawyers will be trying to do everything they can to suppress, preclude the jury from ever finding out what that blood alcohol level was," Nichols said. "If a jury finds out what the blood alcohol level is, the lawyer is going to have a very difficult time trying to defend him on a DUI manslaughter with such a high blood alcohol level."

Nichols also said defense lawyers will try and do everything they can to not let the jury know how fast Jefson was driving.

Channel 4 reached out to Savannah Pfeiffer's family Friday, but they were not prepared to comment.