i have always been warned how seriously jaywalking is taken in the us, to the point of almost paranoia when being there.
it sounds harsh, but someone caused that death, and someone has to be culpable. in this instance it wasn't the driver but the mother who crossed the road holding a child, who ran free, in an undesignated place.
it sounds harsh, and i have great pity for the woman, she has received the full weight of the law. although the article refers to the black/white issue wuite heavily, i am not entirely convinced of the relevance, perhaps someone else knows better.