Tragic deaths of Taylor and Rose Wilmer: Vegas toddlers die as drunk aunt rams car with girls' mom in tow
This article contains graphic content that could be traumatic for some readers. Discretion is advised.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: A woman who was driving a van while intoxicated, lost control of it while their mother was in the passenger seat, killing two toddlers in a tragic collision. After the crash on the night of December 11, Las Vegas police said that Kaleah Sharelle Manning, 23, had a "strong odor of alcohol coming from her mouth" every time she "opened it to speak."
Taylor Wilmer, 3, and Rose Wilmer, 2, died in a collision on Scott Robinson Boulevard around 9.15 pm. Taylor was taken to the University Medical Center but she died early on December 12, while Rose died at the site of the car crash. The silver 2004 Honda Odyssey van that Manning, the girls' aunt, was driving went off the road, hit the curb, a small tree, a light pole, and finally a sizable palm tree. When the crash occurred, the girls' 25-year-old mother Raenysa Clydette-Glenn Washington was sitting in the front passenger seat. The North Las Vegas Police Department confirms that an intoxicated “family member” was driving the car that went out of control, causing a crash that killed two young children and decapitated one of them, reports 8 News Now.
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Both women were chained to their beds at the hospital as they recovered from their injuries, which were critical at the start of the week. Officer Alexander Cuevas of the North Las Vegas Police Department revealed that both ladies are accused of a number of crimes in relation to the death of the toddlers. The two little girls lived with Manning and Washington in the same house in Henderson, where their mother was charged with two counts of negligence and endangerment that resulted in their death, Daily Mail reports.
Their aunt Manning is accused of driving while her license is suspended, driving without insurance, and three charges of DUI causing serious bodily harm or death. They were booked in absentia since they are still in the hospital and have not yet been checked into the Clark County Detention Facility. Witnesses allegedly saw one of the women involved in the collision dump the body of one of the young girls to the ground before tripping over it.
Isaac Garcia told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that it "shocked" him and "broke his heart" because she just "left the baby there." Another witness said the woman appeared to be intoxicated, adding, "When she was getting out of the car, she just stepped on the baby and walked to the grass. She got out of the car, and stepped on the baby, like nonchalant."
Police investigations indicate that both girls were not in child safety seats on the night of the event, and horrifying images show the van to have sustained significant damage. According to the police, both toddlers were not seated in the seats that were required by law, but rather were using adult seat belts.
After the collision, Manning was apparently repeating herself and slurring her words. Police claimed that her eyes were bloodshot. She claimed to have had two shots of alcohol, and blood tests to determine the amount of alcohol in her system are still pending. The girl's father, Tavon Wilmer, 22, said the car crash was "something that should never have happened." He added, "My girls were beautiful, smart girls."
The crash is still under investigation, with Detective Cuevas saying during a press conference, "This is a call to action about DUI, speed and proper child restraints." In addition, Manning is charged with failure to maintain a travel lane, two counts of child neglect/endangerment resulting in death, and two counts of operating a vehicle without child safety straps.