NEW:
A half dozen charges have been filed against a young woman who investigators say was going at least 75 mph when she allegedly caused a deadly five car chain reaction crash Sunday in South Bend.
(You can read the release from the St. Joseph Co. Prosecutor's Office below.)
St. Joseph County-Today the St. Joseph County Prosecutor’s Office charged Raeaunna
White, 29, in a six-count information in connection with a June 28th chain reaction fatal
crash. She is charged with:
Count I: Reckless Homicide - Level 5 Felony
Count II: Reckless Homicide - Level 5 Felony
Count III: Reckless Driving - Class A Misdemeanor
Count IV: Reckless Driving - Class A Misdemeanor
Count V: False Informing - Class B Misdemeanor
Count VI: Driving While Suspended - Class A Misdemeanor
Probable cause was found and an arrest warrant ordered issued. Defendant was ordered
held until her initial bail hearing. At the issuance of this release, she remains in the
hospital. We will notify the public of her first court date.
The sentencing range for a Level 5 Felony is 1 to 6 years. The sentencing range for a Class
A Misdemeanor is up to 1 year. The sentencing range for a Class B Misdemeanor is up to
180 days.
ORIGINAL POST:
The St. Joseph County Prosecutor's office has released information on behalf of the Fatal Accident Crash Team (FACT) regarding a double fatality that occurred in South Bend early Sunday morning.
(You can read the news release below.)
St. Joseph County-At approximately 2:52 this morning, the South Bend Police Department was dispatched to Lincoln Way West and N. Bendix Dr. for a multiple vehicle crash.
A Chrysler 200 allegedly rear-ended a Saturn Ion. This caused a chain reaction crash when
the Saturn Ion was pushed into a Chevy Trax, which pushed the Trax into a Ford Focus.
The Ford Focus then was pushed into a BMW 750. The drivers of the Ion, Trax, Focus, and BMW were waiting on Lincoln Way West, all in the eastbound lane, for the light to turn when the collision occurred.
The driver of the Chrysler 200, Raeaunna White, 29, was taken to the hospital with non
life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the second car, the Saturn Ion, identified as Anthony Ballinger, 44, was taken
to the hospital and at last information was in critical condition. The Ion’s front seat passenger, Tajuanna Norris, 47, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The rear passenger
side passenger of the Ion, identified as Tony Griffin, 37, was also pronounced deceased at
the scene. A fourth occupant of the Ion, the rear driver side passenger, identified as Antwan
Bradley, 5 years old, was taken to the hospital and at last information was in critical condition.
The driver of the third vehicle, the Chevy Trax, identified as Endejah O’Quinn, 25, sustained minor injuries. The front seat passenger of the Trax, identified as Christina Skillon, 28, also sustained minor injuries.
The fourth car, the Ford Focus, only had one occupant, the driver, Thomas Petty, 30. He
was uninjured.
There was also only one occupant in the fifth vehicle, the BMW 750. He was identified as
Mustafa Shammari, 32. He was uninjured.
The St. Joseph County Fatal Crash Team (FACT) was dispatched, per protocol, to handle
the investigation. The investigation remains on-going and toxicology results are pending.