Jesse McInerney: Driver charged in June crash that killed Brittany Hare

St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested a driver in connection with the death of a 14-year-old struck and killed a few blocks from her home in St. Lucie County.

Brittany Hare, who had just finished the 8th grade, was walking down Palm Drive shortly before 10 p.m. on Sunday June 17th when she was hit from behind by a van that was riding in the wrong lane, according to deputies.

The impact carried her more than 100 feet, investigators said.

Jesse Lewis McInerney was taken into custody Friday, according to sheriff Ken Mascara.

“In this case, 14-year-old Brittany Hare was walking on the shoulder of the road just a block away from her home when she was tragically killed by an impaired driver, Jesse McInerney,” the sheriff said in a written release.

The sheriff's office said lab results have confirmed that McInerney had several narcotics in his bloodstream which caused his impairment.  

McInerney surrendered to deputies and was transported to the St. Lucie County Jail.

"I'm glad that justice is beginning to be done," said Marsha Lybrand, Hare's mother. "This is just the start, because an arrest isn't a conviction."

The sheriff's office said McInerney is being held on warrants for Driving Under the Influence/Manslaughter ($200,000), Attempted Leaving the Scene of an Accident with Death ($25,000), and Vehicular Homicide ($100,000).

NewsChannel 5's Jon Shainman contributed to this report