Prosecutor: Parade-crash driver ‘purposely’ bypassed barricade
STILLWATER, Oklahoma — A woman accused of driving her car into a crowd of people at Oklahoma State University’s homecoming parade ran a red light, “purposely” went around a barricade and drove over a police motorcycle before crashing into the spectators, a prosecutor said on Monday.
Arguing for a $1-million US bail, Payne County District Attorney Laura Thomas told the judge that if Adacia Chambers is convicted in the deaths of four people, she is “looking at four life sentences.”
Special District Judge Katherine Thomas granted the bond request and ordered a psychological evaluation for Chambers, who is being held on preliminary counts of seconddegree murder.
Chambers appeared at Monday’s hearing via video. The only time she spoke was to say “yes” when the judge asked if she could hear her.
The parade was part of homecoming activities at the university. Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back a school’s alumni and takes place at many U.S. universities, colleges and high schools.
Prosecutors asked for more time to interview the dozens of witnesses who were at the scene Saturday and said one of the injured is in a “fragile” state, which could lead to more charges.
In Oklahoma, seconddegree murder charges are warranted when someone acts in a way that’s “imminently dangerous to another person” but does so without premeditation. Each count is punishable by at least 10 years in prison.
Chambers, 25, has yet to be formally charged — a step that requires prosecutors to file additional documents in court.
The judge scheduled the next hearing for Nov. 13.
After the hearing, Chambers’ attorney, Tony Coleman, said when he told Chambers about the deaths, “her face was blank.” He said he was not sure Chambers is aware that she’s in jail.
On Sunday, Coleman said there was no indication that she had been drinking before the crash. Police are awaiting blood tests to determine whether she was impaired by drugs or alcohol.
Chambers’ father, Floyd Chambers, said his daughter had received in-patient mental-health treatment several years ago. He said nothing seemed amiss recently.