Jazmine Vann sat in a hospital bed Sunday and faced a judge by video link. The 25-year-old Syracuse woman now stands charged with 17 crimes after police say she drove drunk and crashed an SUV into a tree, killing a three-year-old girl.
Prosecutors say Vann admitted drinking before she got behind the wheel early Friday. She was driving her girlfriend and the girlfriend’s two children on the city’s North Side near Park and DeWitt streets. The kids were three-year-old Yasmeen and her seven-year-old brother.
Investigators say Vann sped past 70 miles an hour, ran stop signs, ignored a red light, and struck a curb. The SUV went airborne for more than 30 feet and slammed into a tree. Yasmeen died from her injuries. The boy broke bones. Both adults also needed hospital care.
Neighbors rushed to the scene after the crash. Video showed them trying to help the people inside the wrecked vehicle. All four went to Upstate University Hospital.
In court Vann heard charges of aggravated vehicular homicide, first- and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, first-degree assault, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Under Leandra’s Law she faces DWI counts for causing a child’s death, plus common-law DWI, reckless driving, and several traffic violations including no seatbelts for the children.
The judge ordered her held at the Onondaga County Justice Center once she is medically cleared. Police ask anyone with information about the crash to contact the Syracuse Police Traffic Division. The investigation continues.
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