News 5 Investigates: Dangerous Driving Record

Alabama Citronelle A News 5 investigation uncovers the dangerous driving record of a teenager accused of killing two passengers in a high speed crash.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Wed, July 16, 2008 - 4:00 pm CST

A News 5 investigation has uncovered court records showing a 16-year-old accused of killing two people in a high-speed crash has a dangerous driving record.

Alexandria Martin, 16, is charged as an adult with two counts of vehicular homicide for the deaths of Devon Neel, 9, and LaTasha Hudson, 20. Investigators say the teen was driving more than 100 mph in a 45 mph zone last month when she crashed on Prine Road in Citronelle. Four other people in the car, including Martin, were injured.

According to a court record obtained by News 5, this is not the first time Martin was accused of driving more than 40 miles over the speed limit. In May, Martin was ticketed by an Alabama State Trooper for driving 107 on a 65 mph road.

Martin's attorney, John Beck, said in open court last week his client had never been in trouble with the law. Tuesday, Beck released a report from an accident re-constructionist saying the teenager could not have been driving more than 62 mph when she crashed in Citronelle. Nonetheless, the teenager, who faces up to ten years in prison for the deaths in last month's crash, will no doubt hear about her driving history when her case goes to trial. Chief Assistant District Attorney Nicki Patterson says the DA's office is aware of Martin's prior offense.

Alabama law requires the District Attorney to treat Martin as an adult because she is 16 or older and charged with a felony that resulted in the death of another person.

Martin is scheduled to be in court July 29th for the May 5th speeding ticket. A preliminary hearing in the vehicular homicide case is set for August.

News 5 attempted to contact Martin's attorney for this story, but our call was not returned.

According to the Mobile County District Attorney's office, Alabama law requires the DA to charge Martin as an adult. The law says anyone 16 or older charged with a felony that results in another person's death must be tried as an adult.

Click here to see the court document for yourself.

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BamaBob Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 3:41 pm

This debate still going on? I thought for sure the angry torch toting mob would have dragged the girl into the center of town square by now!

rosepetal Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 11:56 am

the wife good morning,
http://www.wkrg.com/local/article/have_they_got_the_wrong_man/6911/

it looks like mr. beck in the video, is this guy still awaiting trial.

The wife Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 10:00 am

Both of them have an attorney by the name of John Beck.

rosepetal Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 2:14 am

i could be wrong but isnt her attorney the same attorney that represented the man who is accused of killing bobby wilsom. i believe his name was buzbee.

sweetnsour Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 12:58 am

Rosepetal I am all for the living. What is done is done. Noone is perfect but Jesus Christ. That is why I always take up for the ignorant that have not found their own way yet. You cannot bring back the dead but you can give a helping hand to people that don’t have a clue.

rosepetal Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 12:22 am

if it was reversed and the expert witness was the officer on the scene, her attorney could have brought in a expert witness to argue against his findings. thats why i just do not have much faith in expert witnesses.

rosepetal Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 12:15 am

southfan1981 , who knows, i do not believe john tyson’s office would have ever charged her if they did not think they had a case. let the civil courts handle it. not as hard to prove. but lets see.

southfan1981 Says:

Sun, Jul 20, 2008 at 12:06 am

I predict that if this goes to court, the defense accident reconstruction expert, Mr. Prosser, will bring in computer animation to illustrate his evaluation of the crash.
Perhaps it took the DA nearly a month to charge her because they had to run their own analysis and make sure their numbers were supported?

rosepetal Says:

Sat, Jul 19, 2008 at 11:28 pm

sweetnsour , how are you feeling, i was truly sorry about your brother. i thought about you a lot today.

sweetnsour Says:

Sat, Jul 19, 2008 at 11:21 pm

Rosepetal, I’m with you. You can’t help it you were born with a few thorns, by nature. You have a right to your opinion. This is a post your comment board.