‘My baby, not my baby’: Mother’s anguish after drunk driving crash kills daughter, fiancé
CORDELE, Ga. (WALB) — An Albany mother says it could be three to four years before she sees justice for her daughter and fiancé who were killed in a high-speed crash on Halloween night.
Police say Bailey Green was driving nearly 100 miles per hour when he crossed a median on Highway 300 and struck a vehicle carrying four people. Gracie Watts, her seven-year-old daughter Za’riah Ward, her 30-year-old fiancé Jaylan Bell, and their friend Arriyan Brown had traveled from Texas to attend a friend’s wedding.
“The only thing I remember is I woke up surrounded with lights. I looked in the backseat and saw my friend’s face covered in blood,” Watts said. “I looked over at my boyfriend and I tapped him saying ‘Jaylan, babe.’ I looked down at his stomach and it was just cut open.”
Za’riah was lodged in the back seat. Both Za’riah and Jaylan died at the scene.
Suspect has prior arrests
Police reports say Green was uncooperative and argumentative at the scene. Police issued a search warrant because they say he refused a blood test. Court records confirm Green was arrested for reckless driving and having an open container just three months before this fatal crash. He is currently out on $100,000 bond.
“[Bailey Green] is at home, happy with his family. He’s going to spend Christmas with them. While my niece and nephews are going to spend Christmas without their father,” said Shaquera Jenkins, Jaylan’s sister.
The family says court officials told them a trial could be three to four years away.
“We want justice for our brother and niece... We don’t care about your family’s businesses and how many you have. You took two lives and we want justice,” Jenkins said.
Impaired driving prevention
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says roughly 34 people die daily in drunk driving crashes.
December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. Officials use this time to remind drivers about the deadly consequences of getting behind the wheel intoxicated. This is personal to Gracie Watts.
“It is not right what happened to us. I’m in a messed up situation and I’m not myself,” Watts said.
Court filings list Green’s charges:
- Two counts of Homicide by Vehicle in the First Degree
- Two counts of Serious Injury by Vehicle
- Possession of an Open Container in the Vehicle Passenger Area
- Failure to Maintain Lane
- Reckless Driving
- Failure to Use a Safety Belt in a Passenger Vehicle and Driving Under the Influence
If Green is convicted he could face up to 15 years in prison.
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