UPDATE (1/19, 8:00 A.M.) – A 5-month-old newborn boy who was seriously injured in an alleged drunk-driving crash last week has died from his injuries, according to an update from DPS.
On Thursday, January 13, two cars wrecked in Gregg County near Lakeport just before 4:30 p.m. 21-year-old Hayden Malone, a Tyler native, was charged with intoxicated manslaughter for the death of a two-year-old boy in the crash.
The two-year-old victim was taken to a hospital in Shreveport where he died two days later from his injuries.
The newborn baby boy had been taken to a Longview hospital before being flown to Dallas. He died on Tuesday, January 18.
Malone will now face a second intoxicated manslaughter charge for the boy’s death. He also is charged with two counts of intoxication assault. He faces a maximum of 60 years in prison if convicted on all counts.
On Monday, a Tyler Legacy senior died after being hit by an alleged drunk driver Friday night in Tyler. Lilly Thornburgh was pulled from life support after being declared brain dead.
The driver, 24-year-old Jason Charles, has been charged with intoxicated manslaughter as well. He is looking at a maximum of two decades in prison if convicted.
GREGG COUNTY, Texas (KETK) – A two-year-old boy was killed and one adult and two other children were injured in a two-vehicle crash, involving an intoxicated man near Lakeport on State Highway 149, according to DPS.
On Thursday afternoon around 4:24 p.m., DPS Troopers responded to the fatal crash on State Highway 149 about three miles southeast of Lakeport.
A preliminary investigation report indicates that Mercedes D. Cole, 24, of Longview was driving south in the inside lane in a 2015 Nissan Versa with her turn signal activated and was preparing to turn left into the private lot of the Dollar General store on SH 149.
That’s when Hayden M. Malone, 21, of Tyler, driving south, hit Cole’s car, according to DPS.
Cole had five passengers, including:
- 26-year-old Alan Jasso Cerna, of Longview, who was taken to Longview hospital in serious condition,
- A 7-year-old girl
- A 4-year-old girl who was flown to a hospital in Shreveport with critical injuries who was reported not wearing a seatbelt
- A 2-year-old boy who was flown to a hospital in Shreveport and later died two days later, according to hospital officials
- And a 5-month-old baby boy who was taken to a hospital in Longview and was later flown to Dallas hospital.
Malone was arrested for three counts of intoxication assault, and one count of intoxication manslaughter and was taken to the Gregg County Jail.
Agents from TABC TRACE Unit are actively investigating along with Department of Public Safety Troopers. Gregg County Sheriff’s Office as well as Gregg County District Attorney’s Office aided in the investigation. The crash was investigated by Trooper Justin Craig and Trooper Michael Blackwell of DPS Longview.
