Prosecutor appeals reversal in ignition-related fatality

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A prosecutor is appealing a judge’s decision to reverse the involuntary manslaughter conviction of a woman because a faulty General Motors ignition switch.

The Allegheny County district attorney’s office said in Superior Court appeal notice last Thursday that Lakisha Ward-Green could have refused to plead guilty because the air bag failed to deploy, but chose not to.

The 25-year-old Penn Hills woman pleaded guilty to manslaughter and reckless driving in 2012 and served three months in jail before her attorney appealed citing the GM defect.

Police determined Ward-Green was driving 75 mph in a 35 mph zone before she crashed, killing 16-year-old Robert Chambers IV.

A judge reversed her conviction last Wednesday citing a GM recall for ignition switches that unexpectedly turn off, causing the cars to stall and disabling steering, brakes and air bags.