Mother to appear in court after crash killed 4-month-old

CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte mother is due in front of a judge Monday morning on child abuse charges after a car crash killed her baby daughter last week.

Investigators said Kayla Davis was holding her baby, 4-month-old Londyn Johnson, in her lap when the crash happened.

She was arrested Saturday and has been charged with felony child abuse causing serious bodily injury.

Police said Davis was one of six people in the car when Thabiti Pierre-Louis crashed on Old Statesville Road in north Charlotte last Tuesday.

Police said he was drunk and under the influence of drugs when the crash happened.

Police arrested Pierre-Louis, the driver of the car, and charged him with felony death by vehicle. He has also been charged with reckless driving to endanger, possession of marijuana up to half an ounce and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Police said he had been drinking before the accident.

His first court appearance was Thursday; Pierre-Louis showed no emotion as the judge read his charges.

Family members said the baby was initially in her car seat, but was taken out so another passenger could fit in the car. When the accident occurred she was sitting in her mother's lap. The vehicle flipped on top of Londyn, killing her.

WSOC