An amended charge of reckless homicide was filed against a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, man in the March 6 two-vehicle crash that killed 39-year-old Joshua Baumgardner of Altona.
The crash occurred along US Highway 34 that resulted in Baumgardner’s death and the hospitalization of Jamal Jenkins Junior and three children under the age of 10 that were in his car.
Knox County State’s Attorney Jeremy Karlin says that Jenkins was erroneously charged with a second count of reckless homicide due to the mistaken belief that one of the children had been killed in the accident.
During the Monday Knox County committee meeting overseeing the sheriff’s department, Sheriff David Clague said the crash was one of the worst he’d seen in his 48 years, adding it was the first time he could remember requesting three life-flight helicopters land for one accident.
Sheriff Clague detailed how Jenkins and two of the children from the car were thrown from the vehicle after the crash.
“The one child, 8 years of age, was life-flighted and at the time the doctor said [they were] brain dead. We checked back in a couple more days. No change and they were waiting for the harvesting of the organs. And, apparently Friday evening sometime, there started to be some images of brain activity. Eventually, he was moving his arms around to the point that this morning he’s considered stable condition.”
Clague added that they are considering transporting the child to Philadelphia, where his mother lives. The other two children had less severe injuries. One had a broken leg, according to Clague, and the other had a laceration.
The sheriff also commented on how civilians driving by stopped to render aid when they came across the scene.
“Had two witnesses that stopped and gave statements. Both of them said the car was going at least 90 miles-per-hour. So, Monday we got a search warrant to remove the black box from the car. That box registered 91 miles-per-hour, five seconds before impact, and reducing down to the point of — at impact — 79 miles-an-hour.”
Jenkins has been at the hospital since the collision until his release into the custody of the sheriff’s departments. His bail was set at $250,000. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for April 6.