Man from Alstead Receives Sentence for DUI Crash that Claimed Life of Putney Woman

Ball was sentenced on April 14, receiving a prison term of six to ten years, with four years to be served.

An individual from Alstead, New Hampshire has been sentenced following a tragic incident in which a 78-year-old pedestrian from Putney lost her life due to a drug-impaired driving accident. Jason Ball, aged 25, entered a guilty plea in Windham Superior Court related to the incident, which occurred last May. He was charged with driving under the influence of drugs causing another's death.  

Court documents reveal that Ball was operating a 2016 Jeep Cherokee when he veered across the center line on Main Street (Vermont Route 5), leading to him driving onto a sidewalk and hitting two pedestrians. Diane Clementine succumbed to severe blunt force trauma injuries as a result of the collision. Another pedestrian, identified as 68-year-old Deborah Bozetarnik, suffered minor injuries but reported ongoing emotional difficulties stemming from the crash.  

Ball's plea acknowledged that he was under the influence of drugs during the incident, which resulted in Clementine’s fatal injuries. Toxicology tests confirmed the presence of cocaine and fentanyl in his system. Initially, Ball pleaded not guilty to earlier charges related to the crash, including DUI causing injury; however, the charges were elevated to DUI resulting in death after Clementine’s subsequent passing.  

Ball was sentenced on April 14, receiving a prison term of six to ten years, with four years to be served. After his release, he is expected to be on probation for several years. Prior to the sentencing, Clementine’s daughter communicated the profound impact of the tragedy, suggesting that the defendant should take this chance to reflect on his actions and inspire positive change.  

The case attracted considerable attention, prompting a rigorous legal pursuit that included Ball being initially held without bail as prosecutors sought more severe charges following the victim's death.