Attorney: Driver avoided barricade before crash

A woman accused of driving her car into a crowd of people at Oklahoma State University’s homecoming parade “purposely” went around a barricade and ran a red light before crashing into the spectators, a prosecutor said Monday.

Arguing for a $1 million 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 second-degree 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.

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, second-degree 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, of Stillwater, 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. Chambers had yet to ask to see her parents or boyfriend.

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.

He said he spoke with Chambers for about an hour.

“During that entire interview, I was not satisfied at all that I was communicating with a competent individual,” Coleman said.

He said Chambers was at work before the crash and that she does not remember much, only that she felt confused as she was removed from the car.

Shortly before the hearing, Chambers’ father, aunt and boyfriend appeared outside the courthouse, telling reporters that they don’t know what led to the crash.

Chambers father, Floyd Chambers, said his daughter had received inpatient mental health treatment several years ago.