Child Killed When Car Hits Pole In Arlington
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) -Arlington Police say a 5-year-old girl was killed when a car crashed into a utility poll in Arlington Saturday morning.
The child is identified as Deunna Fairchild.
Investigators say they believe speed and impairment by her mother are contributing factors in this deadly crash.
While the crash is still in the early stages of the investigation, the driver, identified as 25-year-old Valencia Freeman of Arlington, was arrested for one count of Intoxication Manslaughter and two counts of Intoxication Assault-Serious Bodily Injury.
Freeman remains in the Arlington City Jail.
Police say seven people were in the car. Three adults and four juveniles. Fairchild's brothers and sisters are still in the hospital in stable condition.
Some were ejected when the car hit the pole in the 5800 Block of S. Collins around 10:00 a.m.
Some of the injured were rushed to hospitals by Careflite.
As news of the crash reached friends of 25-year-old Valencia Freeman, they said they couldn't believe it.
"I was shocked. I'm still shocked. I can't believe it 'cause those kids meant more to me. They're like my kids, and when I found out the little one died, it hit me," neighbor Joy McCandless said.
McCandless feels like a grandmother to all the neighborhood children in their close knit community.
"These kids, it's going to be in their head, their sister's dead, and that oldest one will remember," McCandless said.
As news spread that Freeman had been charged with intoxication manslaughter, those close to her expressed regret.
"What can I tell you? I hope God forgives her," neighbor Lucy Sermeno said.
"Cause these babies was innocent. They didn't need to be in that car. She shouldn't even be driving," McCandless added.
Live wires went down across S. Collins Street after the crash and about 500 people lost power for a while.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
