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An Albany woman could spend up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to aggravated vehicular homicide in a fatal drunk driving crash that killed two passengers on Interstate 787. Imahjai Sutherland, 25, admitted her role in the October 2025 incident during a court hearing, according to the Albany County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors and police say Sutherland was speeding at 81 mph while attempting to exit Interstate 90 onto the I-787 southbound ramp early Sunday (October 12, 2025). Her car went over a guardrail and flew nearly 200 feet down an embankment before landing in dense brush. Officers found Sutherland crawling from the wreckage while her two passengers, identified as 27-year-old Jamilla Tirado and 25-year-old Cepelynn Johnson, were declared dead at the scene.
A toxicology report showed Sutherland’s blood alcohol content was 0.18—over twice the legal limit—and she also had active levels of cannabis in her system, according to New York State Police. She was taken to Albany Medical Center with serious injuries following the crash.
Sutherland was initially charged with multiple felonies, including two counts of second-degree manslaughter and aggravated vehicular homicide. She later pleaded guilty to the aggravated vehicular homicide charge, as reported by the Albany County District Attorney’s office.
Her sentencing is scheduled for May 27, and she faces between six years and eight months to 20 years in state prison. The case highlights ongoing concerns about impaired driving and road safety in the Capital Region.