A Louisiana woman has been charged with negligent homicide after an off-duty police officer crashed into her car and killed her one-year-old infant.
Officer Christopher Manuel was initially charged with negligent homicide for causing the crash in October 2017. He was said to be driving a Corvette at 94 mph in a 50 mph area. It was confirmed that he was not under the influence.
But now Brittany Stephens, 20, has also been charged this week because she reportedly did not secure her daughter Seyaira Stephens’ car seat appropriately, according to The Advocate. Police said that Stephens showed gross negligence and that her “lack of securing the seat to the vehicle and the loose straps are a contributing factor in the death.“ She was not driving the car at the time.
Police spokesperson L’Jean McKneely said that Stephens was “the person responsible for the buckling of the car seat.”
A total of four children and four adults were in the car, and they were all taken to hospital for their injuries. Seyaira later died in hospital.
The East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore III told reporters Tuesday that he had yet to decide whether Stephens would be formally charged.
For now, she has posted her $3,600 bail.