LEE COUNTY, GA (WALB) -
An arrest is made in the death of a Lee County middle schooler.
14-year old Taylor Bailey died after falling off of the back of a moving vehicle in April.
The driver of that car 19-year-old Steven Edward Mathis is now charged with vehicular homicide.
Officials say Mathis is ultimately responsible for Bailey's death since he was driving the car.
Now, Lee County law enforcers want to drive home the message that a car is not a toy.
19-year-old Steven Edward Mathis sits in jail accused in the death of 14 year old Taylor Bailey.
Bailey's family was relieved by the arrest made Thursday night.
"I immediately was crying I was very thankful that justice has finally been served, this is a 14 year old little boy, he didn't deserve this," said Madison Karr, Taylor Bailey's Cousin.
The Lee County Middle School student suffered a critical head injury April 19th when he fell off a car near the intersection of Nacoochee Street and Groover Street.
A few weeks later, he was taken off life support and died May 7th.
"The car was slammed on the breaks and Taylor went flying off the trunk," said Karr.
Several other teens were inside the car and another boy was on the trunk with Bailey.
"I think what bothers me the most is that no one is accepting responsibility for what happened," said Karr.
Steven Mathis is charged with 1st degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving.
"You are hurting yourself and you are hurting other families, when you do something like this and you're not thinking clearly enough to stay away from that kind of driving," said Karr.
Sheriff Rachals says even though Bailey shouldn't have been sitting on the trunk of a moving car, the driver is ultimately responsible.
"If you're the driver of the vehicle, you are definitely responsible, and in this case, the Mathis boy is definitely responsible, for any actions that may occur while he is driving," said Sheriff Reggie Rachals, Lee Co. Sheriff's Office.
He wants the community to understand that a vehicle is not something to play around with.
"What I would like to drive home is the fact that don't use a vehicle as a toy, because it definitely is not a toy to play with it, you can get hurt from it," said Rachals
He says no matter how far you are traveling, it is important to drive responsibly.
The coroner says Bailey's organs were donated after he was taken off life support.
Karr says Bailey's parents are also relieved by the news of the arrest.
Steven Mathis is in the Lee county Jail Friday night.
His bond was set at $15,000 dollars.
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