*A Baton Rouge mother is not only mourning the death of her one-year-old daughter after a car accident, but she is most likely working to get a good lawyer — one that will keep her out of jail after she was arrested on Tuesday in relation to her daughter’s death.
According to a police report, on October 12, 2017, off-duty Baton Rouge officer Christopher Manuel, 28, was said to be driving at a speed of 94 mph when his 2007 Chevrolet Corvette struck the Nissan that Brittany Stephens was a passenger in, along with three other adults and a child.
Manuel was accused of causing the crash that led to the death of toddler Seyaira Stephens, but the arrest report of the child’s mother cites her “lack of securing the seat to the vehicle and the loose straps are a contributing factor in the death” of the child and “show gross negligence” on the mother’s part.
Stephens had previously told officers she secured the car seat with the baby inside, but an investigation apparently revealed something different. Police spokesman Sgt. L’Jean McKneely said Stephens, 20, was arrested because she “was the person responsible for the buckling of the car seat.”
She was booked on Tuesday into Parish Prison on one count each of negligent homicide and seat belt violation.
In fact, each adult in the car has been cited.
According to The Advocate, Breea Gross, 18, was driving when the crash occurred at 8 p.m. on October 12, 2017. She was cited for driving without a license, seat belt violation, and three counts of child safety restraint violation.
Janice Gross, 40, was cited for allowing an unlicensed driver to drive her vehicle and seat belt violation, and Seth Eames, 23, was also cited for seat belt violation.
Sgt. McKneely said there were more people riding in the vehicle than seats available.
The Advocate reports…
Manuel was also hospitalized with injuries.
“Through mathematic calculation I was able to determine that the speed of the Corvette at the time of the crash was 94 mph,” a Baton Rouge police investigator wrote in the report. “This was also confirmed by a download of the Corvettes Airbag Control Module.”
The officer wrote in the report that the speed limit was 50 mph.
The investigation found that the driver of the Nissan was driving south on Airline Highway and attempted to make a left turn onto Florline Boulevard where there was a green light. The Corvette, which also had a green light, struck the passenger side of the Nissan, causing it to roll over, according to the report.
Rest in peace, little one. Sending kisses your way. Sending loving support to your family.
Read more at The Advocate
