Milwaukie Red Light Crash: Driver Sentenced to Over Eight Years for Fatal Collision

A Clackamas County courtroom delivered a somber judgment this past Monday, as Austin Richard Jones, a 27-year-old, was handed a significant prison sentence for his role in a truly devastating 2025 Milwaukie car crash. He’ll be spending 100 months—that’s eight years and four months—behind bars for a tragic incident that, sadly, claimed the life of 82-year-old Margaret Brown.

This heartbreaking crash, which sent shockwaves through the Milwaukie community, unfolded on the night of August 31, 2025. Imagine the scene: Jones, behind the wheel, approached the intersection of Southeast Milport Street and Southeast McLoughlin Boulevard. Instead of stopping, he reportedly blew right through a red light, traveling at a staggering 50 miles per hour. This incredibly reckless act led to him T-boning another vehicle, a car driven by 91-year-old Donald Wesley Brown, who was Margaret’s husband.

The impact was severe. Both Margaret and Donald Brown, along with Jones himself and his passenger, all sustained injuries in the horrific collision. They were immediately rushed to Oregon Health & Science University for urgent medical attention. But despite every effort, Margaret Brown tragically succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Her husband, Donald, who calls Oak Grove home, survived the crash physically, but one can only imagine the immense grief he carries, losing his beloved wife in such an utterly senseless manner.

Just last month, Jones chose to plead guilty to a string of very serious charges. We’re talking Criminally Negligent Homicide—the charge directly related to Margaret Brown’s death—along with Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Reckless Driving, two counts of Assault in the Third Degree, and, crucially, Driving under the Influence of Intoxicants. It's quite a list, isn't it? It paints a stark picture of the irresponsibility and disregard for safety that ultimately led to such a profound and irreversible loss.

And, to be frank, this wasn't Jones's first time encountering trouble with the law. The court noted his previous conviction in Washington County back in 2023 for Unlawful Use of a Vehicle, which resulted in a 13-month sentence. Furthermore, he's currently facing additional, separate charges in Multnomah County from 2025, including Unlawful Use of a Vehicle, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Possession of Methamphetamine. These past and pending legal issues certainly add another troubling layer to an already tragic narrative, hinting at a pattern of problematic behavior.

Ultimately, this sentencing sends a powerful and unmistakable message: the devastating consequences of reckless choices behind the wheel, particularly when they involve speeding through red lights and driving under the influence, will be met with serious accountability. For the Brown family, while no sentence can ever truly bring Margaret back, perhaps there’s a small, hard-won measure of justice in knowing that Austin Richard Jones is now facing the severe repercussions of his dangerous actions.