By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

HELENA–A 28-year-old Bessemer man who was allegedly involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident in Helena on May 2, was denied a motion to dismiss his manslaughter charge by Shelby County District Court Judge Daniel Crowson Jr. on May 27.

Damian Lamar Jackson of Bessemer was arrested and charged with manslaughter, unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and leaving the scene of an accident with injuries on May 3. The charges came after 33-year-old Helena resident Holley Myrick was pronounced dead at the scene of a hit-and-run incident the afternoon of Monday, May 2.

Jackson allegedly struck her with a Yukon XL SUV and fled the scene of the accident but was later apprehended after an Alabaster police officer located Jackson and the Yukon in a driveway in Alabaster.

According to court documents, on May 26, Jackson filed a handwritten motion for dismissal on the manslaughter charge claiming “While driving off in a gold Yukon XL 2005, removing himself from a verbal dispute, the victim jumped onto his moving vehicle, not by his (Damian L. Jackson) force and it resulted in the victims death.”

On May 27, Crowson denied the motion to dismiss the manslaughter charge stating “The court is not permitted to receive such ex-parte communication.”

As of Aug. 1, Jackson remains in the Shelby County Jail on bonds totaling $75,000.

Manslaughter is a Class B felony and if convicted, Jackson faces up to 20 years in prison.

Leaving the scene of an accident with injury is a Class C felony and if convicted, Jackson faces up to 10 years in prison.

A preliminary hearing on the case has been set for Aug. 11 at 8:30 a.m. according to court documents.