Traffic deaths yield two indictments

Posted 4/22/21

Almost 15 months after a head-on collision north of Mineola killed a grandmother and grandson, the driver cited in the crash has been indicted for two counts of criminally negligent homicide.

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Traffic deaths yield two indictments

Posted

Almost 15 months after a head-on collision north of Mineola killed a grandmother and grandson, the driver cited in the crash has been indicted for two counts of criminally negligent homicide.

The Wood County Grand Jury handed down those indictments on March 31 against Kaylie Michelle Hasten, 25, of Mineola.

Hasten was southbound on Hwy. 37 in a curve three miles north of Mineola on Jan. 2, 2020 when her vehicle crossed the center line and smashed head-on into a minivan driven northbound by Anna Ruth Bates, 46, of Quitman. Bates died at the scene and her grandson, Zander, seven months, passed away three days later from his injuries.

Two other family members, six- and four-year-old girls, were injured.

Hasten is also being sued in district court in a civil wrongful death case by members of the Bates family.

Hasten was charged with speeding in February 2021 and previously was charged with speeding in 2016 and 2017 and with harassment by repeated electronic communication in 2019.

She pleaded guilty to the harassment charge and received 12 months of community supervision and a $1,000 fine plus court costs on Sept. 18, 2019.