MADISON, AL -
The Madison Police Department has arrested a former Bob Jones High School student in a deadly wreck that happened August 22. A woman who was pregnant was killed, and so was her unborn child.
Police say David James Mears' reckless driving caused an accident that claimed the life of a 20 year-old mother and her unborn child. It happened at the intersection of Wall Triana Highway and Gooch Lane on August 22.
Madison Police say Mears, 16, was driving a truck that crashed into the pregnant woman's car. Mears is charged with two counts of manslaughter.
Police say the case is unique because Mears is charged as an adult. Another interesting item -- Mears' charges stem from an Alabama law called the Brody Bill. It recognizes two victims instead of one when a pregnant woman is assaulted or killed.
Madison Police say Mears is the first person in the city to be charged under the new law. The 16-year-old is accused of crashing his truck into a car driven by a 20-year-old woman in her third trimester of pregnancy.
"When he went through the light, there happened to be a car, and he collided with her car," said Madison Police Sergeant Steve Wilkerson.
Police say they obtained warrants to arrest the Bob Jones High School student after the crash. The teenager faces two counts of manslaughter. Madison Police have charged him as adult.
"When you have an accident like this, it's tragic, and we want to investigate it to the fullest potential of our department, before we would charge anybody with this type of charge," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
Sgt. Wilkerson says manslaughter is a serious charge, especially for a young adult.
"We want to educate drivers, and our citizens to drive safely. We don't like writing tickets. It does not pay for anything we do," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
Madison Police want to send a message to everyone who gets behind a wheel.
"Be attentive to their driving, when someone is not attentive, it can cause an accident like this," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
Madison's new police chief took the message even further.
"We at the Madison Police Department want to impress to all drivers and parents of young drivers what a huge responsibility it is to operate vehicles safely on our roadways," said Chief Larry Muncey. "It's not just your life you endanger, but others as well."
"The parents have to be really involved with this because the parents at home are the ones watching their kids drive, and they see the things that we can't see," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
David Mears has posted a $40,000. His court date has not been set.
Police say David James Mears' reckless driving caused an accident that claimed the life of a 20 year-old mother and her unborn child. It happened at the intersection of Wall Triana Highway and Gooch Lane on August 22.
Madison Police say Mears, 16, was driving a truck that crashed into the pregnant woman's car. Mears is charged with two counts of manslaughter.
Police say the case is unique because Mears is charged as an adult. Another interesting item -- Mears' charges stem from an Alabama law called the Brody Bill. It recognizes two victims instead of one when a pregnant woman is assaulted or killed.
Madison Police say Mears is the first person in the city to be charged under the new law. The 16-year-old is accused of crashing his truck into a car driven by a 20-year-old woman in her third trimester of pregnancy.
"When he went through the light, there happened to be a car, and he collided with her car," said Madison Police Sergeant Steve Wilkerson.
Police say they obtained warrants to arrest the Bob Jones High School student after the crash. The teenager faces two counts of manslaughter. Madison Police have charged him as adult.
"When you have an accident like this, it's tragic, and we want to investigate it to the fullest potential of our department, before we would charge anybody with this type of charge," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
Sgt. Wilkerson says manslaughter is a serious charge, especially for a young adult.
"We want to educate drivers, and our citizens to drive safely. We don't like writing tickets. It does not pay for anything we do," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
Madison Police want to send a message to everyone who gets behind a wheel.
"Be attentive to their driving, when someone is not attentive, it can cause an accident like this," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
Madison's new police chief took the message even further.
"We at the Madison Police Department want to impress to all drivers and parents of young drivers what a huge responsibility it is to operate vehicles safely on our roadways," said Chief Larry Muncey. "It's not just your life you endanger, but others as well."
"The parents have to be really involved with this because the parents at home are the ones watching their kids drive, and they see the things that we can't see," added Sgt. Wilkerson.
David Mears has posted a $40,000. His court date has not been set.
