Search Results for: manslaughter by vehicle

Woman charged with murder in fatal DUI crash that killed tennis star

Manhattan Beach, CA – A California woman has been charged with murder following a crash that resulted in the death of high school tennis star Braun Levi. Jenia Resha Belt, 33, faces second-degree murder charges as confirmed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.

Belt was arrested on December 23, months after the May 4 incident in which Levi, 18, was struck while walking with a friend. Initially arrested at the scene, Belt is charged with being intoxicated and driving with a suspended license from a previous drunk driving arrest.

Levi was crossing Sepulveda Boulevard around 12:45 a.m. when he was hit. First responders found him in the roadway, and he died after being taken to a hospital.

According to court records, Belt had a blood alcohol level nearly double the legal limit during the crash. The four passengers in her vehicle fled the scene, and she was subsequently arrested after being released in June.

Levi’s family lost their home in the January Palisades wildfires and had moved to Manhattan Beach just four months before his death. They have established a foundation in his memory and filed a $200 million wrongful death lawsuit against Belt in November.

Belt faces charges of second-degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, and driving with a suspended license. She is expected to be arraigned on December 31.

Intoxicated driver crashes into family, killing three

Richmond, TX

A woman faces multiple charges following a tragic crash that claimed the lives of three family members. Majesti Faith Lee, 27, was charged with intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault after the incident.

The crash occurred early Saturday around 2 a.m. on South Highway 99 near Houston. A family of four, including Lizbeth Rodriguez Contreras, 27, Diego Pena Jr., 26, and two young children, was driving north when Lee allegedly drove south in the northbound lanes and collided with their vehicle.

Contreras and her daughter, Camila, were pronounced dead at the scene. Diego Pena and the couple’s three-year-old son were transported to a local hospital, where Diego later died. As of Wednesday, the young boy is reported to be in critical but stable condition.

Lee sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was also hospitalized before being arrested. Investigators believe alcohol played a role in the incident.

Following her arrest, Lee was jailed on a bond set at $1,050,000. Fort Bend County Sheriff Eric Fagan expressed condolences for the family, emphasizing the dangers of impaired driving.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to assist the surviving family members, highlighting the profound loss endured by these individuals. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible driving decisions.

California mom accused of letting baby die in hot car during spa visit

Bakersfield, CA A California woman faces serious charges after allegedly leaving her infant in a hot car while she attended a cosmetic procedure at a medical spa. Maya Hernandez, 20, is being tried for the death of her 1-year-old son, Amillio, who died due to overheating in the vehicle.

During testimony on Monday, Hernandez defended her actions, stating she did not believe her liquid Brazilian butt lift would take as long as it did. The procedure, known to take longer than the 15-20 minutes she anticipated for lip filler, ended with tragedy for her family.

A witness, an aesthetics injector at the spa, testified that she suggested Hernandez wait in the car due to delays at the facility. The witness indicated Hernandez did not mention her children were in the car or express urgency during their interaction.

Prosecutors presented evidence showing that Hernandez checked her Apple Watch 45 times while waiting inside. They asserted that she failed to check on her children despite outdoor temperatures reaching 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

Text messages sent from the spa informed Hernandez she could bring her children into air conditioning. After finishing her procedure, Hernandez discovered her son unresponsive in the vehicle and attempted to cool him down.

Hernandez has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and two counts of child cruelty. The jury’s decision awaits as the trial continues.

Confession in choking death leads to wrongful death lawsuit against DoorDash

Cincinnati, OH A DoorDash driver’s boyfriend has confessed to choking a man to death during a dispute over a driving incident. The incident has prompted a wrongful death lawsuit against the food delivery service, alleging improper conduct by the couple involved.

Lavontez Davis, 26, pleaded guilty on Monday to charges of strangulation and involuntary manslaughter for the October 2023 death of Jason McKinnon. The lawsuit, filed by McKinnon’s widow, claims Davis and his girlfriend, Shimya Berry, were working for DoorDash at the time of the altercation.

According to the legal complaint, after the altercation, the couple resumed their deliveries. The complaint states they picked up a DoorDash order shortly after the incident and completed the delivery.

Witnesses reported Davis exited the vehicle and approached McKinnon, who had shouted at Berry for driving the wrong way on a one-way street. The confrontation escalated, resulting in Davis placing McKinnon in a chokehold.

Days after the incident, McKinnon died from his injuries. Davis, originally charged with murder and felonious assault, was sentenced to 15 to 20 years in prison.

The civil lawsuit names Davis, Berry, and DoorDash as defendants, claiming their actions contributed to McKinnon’s death. The lawsuit also includes statements from family members expressing the immense loss suffered due to the incident.

McKinnon’s widow, Emily Livingston, stated that the event has caused unbearable pain for her and her family. DoorDash issued a statement expressing condolences, emphasizing that Davis was not a registered driver for the company.