Judge: Actions That Led To Young Woman’s Death Were ‘Extremely Reckless’

A man was sentenced to state prison for causing a violent crash that killed a 22-year-old Trenton woman last year.

Arthur A. Lewis, 24, of Trenton, pleaded guilty to third-degree homicide in late April and was sentenced Thursday to six and one-half to 20 years in state prison for causing the death of passenger Javairia Mahmood, 22, during a crash on I-95 in Bristol Township, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

Lewis was fleeing Pennsylvania State Police troopers early on the morning of April 21, 2017 in his green Acura CL when he struck a concrete construction barrier in the area of the Bristol exit. The Honda overturned and Mahmood, who was sitting in the front passenger seat and wearing a seatbelt, was killed.

During the sentencing, the judge called Lewis’ actions “extremely reckless.”

State police said in court papers that Lewis was being sought after a trooper tried to pull him over after he was speeding past the Academy Road exit in Philadelphia.

Lewis appeared to pull onto the shoulder before speeding off toward Bristol Township at a high rate of speed, state police said.

Troopers noted in court papers that they had trouble keeping up with Lewis during the brief chase due to his speed.

Lewis sped on I-95 through a portion of the 55 mph construction zone in Bristol Township before wrecking.

Lewis was found with four bundles of heroin in his jacket following the crash, Deputy District Attorney Bob James.

Mahmood, the youngest of seven kids, died two nights before her eldest sister, Misbah, was scheduled to be married.

“I buried my sister on the day I was supposed to get married. I have yet to unpack the emotional trauma that has caused,” Misbah Mahmood told Bucks County Judge Theodore Fritsch.

“She was my baby sister, my hype woman, the person who always said positive things to me. Javairia always saw the best in everyone, even though they were not able to see it in themselves.”

The victim was an artist and honor student who loved photography and music, Sabba Mahmood, another one of the victim’s sisters, said.

Lewis’ aunt, Ada Wimbush, told the court that her nephew and Mahmood knew one another through their love of music and spent hours together creating music and singing.

“We may not feel your pain, but we understand the loss,” Wimbush told Mahmood’s family and friends, who packed one side of the courtroom. “She was a really close friend to Arthur and our family.”

The plea was part of negotiations between the district attorney’s office and defense attorneys Sara Webster and Andrew Schneider.