Columbus woman charged with vehicular homicide in February wreck

One woman is dead and another is facing charges more than a week after being involved in a February wreck at the intersection of 10th Avenue and Fourth Street, according to officials.

Officials said Beatrice N. Thomas was pronounced dead at 10 a.m. Saturday at Columbus Midtown Medical Center, where the 74-year-old woman was placed on life support as a result of injuries she sustained as a passenger in the Feb. 19 wreck. Health care professionals listed cardiac arrest as her cause of death, said Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.

Brenda Faye Jordan, the 54-year-old driver of the 2013 Buick Verano Thomas was traveling in, was arrested Tuesday and charged with homicide by vehicle. The Columbus woman was transported to the Muscogee Muscogee County Jail, where she posted a $7,500 bond.

Columbus Police said an officer arrived on the scene minutes after the 4:06 p.m. wreck, which injured both drivers and Thomas. He located the 2013 Buick Verano and 2002 Nissan Altima that were involved sitting westbound on Fourth Street with extensive front end damage.

The driver, who complained of general pain but refused EMS transport, told police that he was traveling traveling west on Fourth Street near 10th Avenue when the Buick “pulled out in front of him from 10th Avenue.”

“He stated that he had no time to avoid a collision and their vehicles collided,” the responding officer stated in the police report.

Authorities said Jordan, who had visible scrape on her chin, told them that she stopped at the stop sign on 10th Avenue. She was proceeding across the Westbound lanes of Fourth Street when her vehicle was struck by the Nissan, according to the suspect’s account of the incident.

“She stated that she doesn’t remember seeing (the Nissan) prior to proceeding into the roadway,” police said.

Jordan was cited for a stop sign violation immediately following the incident.

Sarah Robinson: 706-571-8622, @sarahR_92

This story was originally published March 2, 2016 at 10:43 AM with the headline "Columbus woman charged with vehicular homicide in February wreck."