BEAUMONT, Texas — A woman has been indicted for a fiery crash in July that put six children's lives in danger.
30-year-old Tanecia Coleman, is the woman that has been indicted for a crash that happened on July 29, 2024 at Washington Boulevard and Avenue A in Beaumont.
Coleman is being charged with six counts of "intentionally or knowingly committing the offense of endangering a child".
When officers arrived to the scene of the crash, they found two vehicles, one of which was on fire. They were able to determine that the car on fire was driven by Coleman, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained from Jefferson County Magistrate Judge Marc DeRouen.
Through investigation, they learned that Coleman was driving without a driver's license. She also ran a red light, which caused the crash.
Coleman was driving with six children in the car, more than the vehicle can hold, according to the probable cause affidavit. Three of the children were not wearing seatbelts.
The children's ages range from four to 14-years-old, according the affidavit.
During the crash, Coleman and a 14-year-old were ejected from the vehicle. All seven people in the vehicle sustained injuries, ranging from minor lacerations to broken bones, according to the affidavit.
Police received a FUSUS camera picture taken just a few hours before the crash, which showed a 12-year-old hanging outside the window of the car, without a seatbelt, waving at the camera.
Police also got information that a call was made before the wreck because the group of kids and Coleman were at the Red Roof Inn located at 2310 IH10 S, where the kids got into a fight with another group of children.
Coleman later confirmed to police that this event happened and she was in custody/control of the kids at the time.
Police also recieved CCTV video of Coleman, just before the wreck, driving to Tejas Liquor, located at Washington and 4th Street, according to the affidavit.
The video shows that Coleman drives out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed, and almost hits a dark colored RAM pickup.
Police also saw in the video that a child was sitting on the right passenger window seal, with the upper half of their body hanging outside of the vehicle. This is the 14-year-old that was ejected from the vehicle later during the crash, according to the affidavit.
Coleman then drove on Washington at a high rate of speed. The crash happened just minutes later.
Coleman admitted to traveling over 60 miles per hour on Washington even though the speed limit in that area is 35 mph.
Coleman also admitted that the children she was in charge of were not properly wearing their seatbelts, according to the affidavit. Coleman also admitted she was in control/custody of the children, during the the crash and events leading up to it.
The affidavit states that Coleman intentionally, knowingly, recklessly, or with criminal negligence, by act or omission, engaged in conduct that placed 6 children younger than 15-year-old in imminent danger of death, bodily injury, or physical or mental impairment.