6 days ago
How a woman's vanity killed innocent little boy in horrifying car crash
An Indianapolis woman was allegedly applying makeup as she sped nearly 70mph down a street on her way to work last year and caused a multivehicle crash that killed a six-year-old boy.
Khristal Grant, 43, has been arrested for allegedly causing the November 9 crash on State Road 44 in Indiana, at which young James Donovan Hodges was pronounced dead at the scene, Fox 59 reports.
Hodges was a passenger in a black Ford Explorer that was waiting to turn left off of State Road 44 and onto 600 East, when police say a Chevy Tahoe came barreling down the road and rear ended the vehicle.
Witnesses described how the Tahoe was driving behind them on the State Road at a high rate of speed and appeared to be 'all over the roadway' in the moments before the fatal collision, according to newly-released court documents.
When the Tahoe then passed the witness's vehicle, the occupants said they saw a woman applying makeup while looking into her vanity mirror as she flew by so fast it was as if their car 'was standing still.'
The Tahoe then slammed into the back of the Ford Explorer, which caused the Explorer to spin into the path of a westbound traveling minivan - which then struck the Explorer, according to Fox 59.
Meanwhile, the impact of the crash sent the Tahoe into the eastbound lane - where it was struck by a red Jeep.
Several drivers and passengers were transported to local hospitals in the aftermath, and Hodges was pronounced dead at the scene.
When police later spoke to Grant following the crash, court documents say she admitted to using meth and smoking marijuana 'within the past few days,' but claimed she had not used any drugs that day.
She said she was on her way to work, and denied reports that she was not paying attention to the road, according to Fox 59.
But data mined from her SUV showed that she was traveling nearly 70mph just two-and-a-half seconds before the collision and did not brake until a half second before crashing into the Ford Explorer.
At the time, her speed was estimated to be between 50 to 63mph.
A blood test further determined that she had methamphetamines in her system, and a forensic toxicologist concluded that Grant's erratic driving 'was consistent with impairment from methamphetamines.'
Following the devastating crash, the Shelbyville community rallied around Hodges' mother, Kyndra Phelps, raising more than $13,000 for the family.
She previously told Fox 59 how it was 'tragic' to return home that day and not have her youngest child.
'No mother should ever have to be the one to bury their own baby, especially their youngest,' Phelps said.
But, she said, the community's support 'has shown me that my son has reached out and touched many people just with a smile on his face.'
An obituary also described how Hodges 'enjoyed participating in baseball, Good News and Cub Scouts' and 'loved to bowl, swim, bike, play with dinosaurs and board games.
'James also loved to play with cars, Nerf guns and enjoyed being outdoors,' it said.
'Most of all, James loved meeting people and spending time with family and friends.
'Little did we know the huge impact James would make in peoples' lives, such as making them happy and seeing them smile.'
A warrant was finally issued for Grant's arrest on May 9, charging her with operating a vehicle while under the influence of a substance and causing death - a Level 4 felony in the state.
However, Grant was not taken into custody until May 28.
She now faces up to 12 years behind bars.
