James

The DWI charge against Vanessa James, 21, Deputy Chief Andy Jackson of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department said reflects drug use. That drug use was also reflected in a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Jackson declined to say how much marijuana was in the vehicle.

In addition to those counts the woman faces charges of felony death by motor vehicle, felony manslaughter by negligence and failure to secure a passenger under 16.

The last charge reflects that the child, who police are not identifying until all immediate relatives have been notified, was not in a child seat or wearing a seat belt.

Jackson said James was a friend of the family and a relative who was airlifted to an undisclosed medical facility was in the vehicle with them.

The occupants of the vehicle James struck in the rear in this morning in the southbound lane of Interstate 95 have been treated and are OK.

Jackson said a reconstruction of the wreck will determine speed at the time of the collision.

Trooper J.D. Warren of the state Highway Patrol, which is assisting in the investigation, said earlier today it appeared a 2011 Toyota from Florida was traveling in the left southbound lane when it was hit from the rear by the 2011 Toyota James was driving.

The Florida Toyota ran off the roadway while the vehicle James was driving struck a tree, trapping one adult and ejecting the child.

James was being held on $50,000 bond.