Woman pleads not guilty in string of wrecks that led to boy's death

Kathryn Ann Adams was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs when she caused a string of Columbus crashes Saturday night that resulted in the death of a 7-year-old Phenix City boy, according to Recorder’s Court testimony.

Adams, 56, of Columbus pleaded not guilty this afternoon to all 18 charges stemming from the incident, including one count each of murder, first-degree homicide by vehicle, and theft by vehicle and two counts of DUI. She was denied bond on multiple charges and returned to Muscogee County Jail.

The case was bound over to Superior Court.

Columbus Police said a male paramedic was heading to Lullwater Apartments on Veterans Parkway Saturday night when he spotted Adams walking naked in the roadway. He stopped to offer assist the woman, thinking she may have been assaulted.

“She kept repeating on that she was cold and was not saying anything else,” Officer Doug Dunlap testified.

Authorities said Adams went on to say that she lived at Lullwater Apartments, so the paramedic took her to the apartment that she identified as her home.

Dunlap said the paramedic was inside of the residence checking for any possible offenders when Adams stole the 2011 Hyundai Genesi he was driving. Police said she continued onto Veterans Parkway, where she was involved in three crashes around 8:25 p.m. that left a 7-year-old Ayden Kitchens dead and injured six others, including herself.

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 stolen vehicle 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.

Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said Kitchens of Phenix City was pronounced dead of traumatic head injuries 9:07 p.m. Saturday at Columbus Midtown Medical Center.

In the third incident, Adams was continuing south on Veterans Parkway at the street’s 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. All of the vehicles involved in the collisions sustained extensive damage.

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 backed into police custody.

Officials determined that Adams was under the influence of prescription drugs and alcohol based on her behavior as well as interviews they conducted with witnesses and the woman’s family.

Dunlap said a blood test was administered, but officials have yet to receive the results.

— 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 22, 2015 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Woman pleads not guilty in string of wrecks that led to boy's death ."