Photo: Kent Police Department
An 18-year-old driver is facing numerous charges after he allegedly killed a woman and her three kids while speeding. Authorities said that Chase Jones was traveling at 112 mph when he ran a red light and slammed into a minivan.
The violent crash killed Andrea Hudson, 38, Matilda Wilcoxson, 13, Eloise Wilcoxson, 12, and Buster B. Brown, 12. Two other children, Noah and Charlotte Hudson, were injured in the crash and remain hospitalized.
Jones also suffered numerous injuries in the crash and had to make his first court appearance from his hospital bed via video link.
This is not the first time that Jones has been involved in a high-speed crash. Prosecutor Amy Freedheim noted that "this is the third vehicle that [Jones] has totaled in 11 months, and there are other allegations of his speeding in other matters. The two prior collisions involved high speeds."
During the hearing, Jones pleaded not guilty to four counts of vehicular homicide, two counts of vehicular assault, and one count of reckless driving. His bail was initially set at $1 million, but it was later reduced to $100,000.