An Indiana woman, Jourdan Hudson, 23, is facing charges for a fatal car crash that resulted in the death of her sister and a 6-year-old girl. The incident occurred in November 2024, when Hudson was reportedly driving at speeds exceeding 100 mph on the way to a birthday party. The vehicle, an SUV, rolled and flipped into a ditch, killing two and injuring three others, including two children.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department identified the deceased as Nalani Ella Ervins, 6, and Jaiden Samaria Marquis Newbolt, 25. Hudson was taken into custody and charged with neglect of a dependent resulting in death, neglect of a dependent resulting in serious injury, two counts of reckless homicide, and a lesser neglect charge related to the crash on Interstate 69.
The crash occurred on a Saturday night near the 320-mile marker on Interstate 69. Responding officers and medics found the damaged SUV and five injured individuals around 8 p.m. According to the sheriff’s department, the SUV was traveling southbound when it veered off the road for unknown reasons, struck the guardrail, and rolled. Two occupants were ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, while three others were transported to a local hospital in serious to critical condition.
In the aftermath of the crash, Hudson initially told investigators that her deceased sister was driving the vehicle, and she was in the back with the children, aged 4 to 6. However, she later confessed to being the driver four days after the incident.
Allen County Sheriff’s Deputy Russell Collins noted in the accident report that Hudson, by placing the children in the car, had voluntarily assumed responsibility for their safety while driving them to the birthday party.
If convicted of all charges, Hudson could face up to 70 years in prison. In the wake of the tragedy, GoFundMe fundraisers have been set up for the families of Newbolt and Ervin. The fundraisers detail the impact the victims had on those around them, with one description written by Ervin’s mother, Brittany Ervins, describing her daughter as a “ball of joy” who loved unicorns, ponies, and rainbows.