Update: Woman charged with murder after Phenix City boy dies in car wreck
The 56-year-old woman involved in a string of Columbus wrecks Saturday night that left one 7-year-old Phenix City boy dead has been charged with murder.
Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said Ayden Kitchens was pronounced dead of traumatic head injuries 9:07 p.m. Saturday at Columbus Midtown Medical Center.
Columbus Police said Kathryn Ann Adams of Columbus, the suspect, was driving the stolen 2011 Hyundai Genesis involved in three crashes around 8:25 p.m. Saturday. The collisions left one boy dead and injured six people, including Adams.
In the first crash, Adams was traveling south on Veterans Parkway as a 1990 Ford Ranger was headed north on Veterans Parkway. The 19-year-old Columbus man who was driving the Ford Ranger told police he was headed north when he noticed that the Hyundai Genesis appeared to be traveling in his lane of travel, according to the report.
The man told police that he swerved to the left to avoid a head-on collision, and the Hyundai Genesis struck the right side of his Ford Ranger near the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Cooper Creek Road.
Officials said the impact caused the Ford Ranger to rotate 180 degrees in a clockwise direction before coming to final rest in the south bound lanes facing southeast.
Police said the Hyundai Genesis continued south on Veterans Parkway and was involved in a second crash at the street's intersection with Moon Road.
EMS officials checked on the driver, who complained of injuries, but wasn't transported to the hospital.
In the second wreck, Adams was headed south on Veterans Parkway, just before Mood Road, as a 1996 Chevrolet Corisca and 2013 Honda CR-V were traveling north on Veterans Parkway, just past Moon Road.
Officials said it was reported that Adams crossed the center line and collied with the Chevrolet Corisca, which was in the left straight line at the time.
Debris from the collision struck the front end of the Honda CR-V as it was traveling behind the Chevrolet Corisca, according to the report.
Police said the wreck injured five of occupants in the Chevrolet Corisca and killed the boy who was also traveling in the vehicle. The incident injured Adams, but the five occupants in the Honda CR-V didn't report any injuries.
In the third incident, Adams was continuing south on Veterans Parkway at the streets' intersection with Moon Road when she struck a traffic control box located on the west side of Veterans Parkway north of Moon Road.
The traffic signal control box was completely destroyed and Adams was also injured in the third crash.
Police said they were called to the scene around 8:31 p.m. Saturday and apprehended Adams in connection with all three wrecks. She was treated at Midtown Medical Center for serious injuries and later released.
She faces 18 charges including murder, first-degree homicide by vehicle, theft by taking motor vehicle, DUI and leaving the scene of an accident, officials said.
She is being held in Muscogee County Jail, where she is awaiting her preliminary hearing set for 2 p.m. Tuesday in Recorder's Court.
Staff writer Larry Gierer contributed to this report.
— Sarah is a crime and safety reporter at The Ledger-Enquirer. You can contact her on Twitter at @SarahR_92.
This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Update: Woman charged with murder after Phenix City boy dies in car wreck."