Local woman accused of OWI causing a death after investigation into traffic accident in which her daughter died

Katelyn Mings

COLUMBUS, Ind. — A local woman has been charged with causing a death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated in connection with a fatal vehicle crash that resulted in the death of her 10-year-old daughter.

Katelyn Mings, 29, Columbus, has been charged with felony causing a death while operating a vehicle while intoxicated and felony operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person less than 18 years old, according to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office.

At about 3 p.m. Jan. 17, Bartholomew County Sheriff deputies were sent to the area of East 25th Street in Columbus about a car accident, deputies said.

On arrival, deputies found 10-year old Kaydence Mings deceased at the scene. The driver, Katelyn Mings, mother of the deceased, Webster Gilcrease and their infant child were also in the vehicle, deputies said.

Katelyn Mings and Gilcrease were transported to Columbus Regional Hospital and later to Methodist Hospital for their injuries. Both have since been released. The infant was injured, deputies said.

Following an investigation by the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office, Columbus Police Department and Indiana State Police, a preliminary report was sent to the Bartholomew County Prosecutor’s Office.

After a warrant was issued for Mings, Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Deputy Dylan Prather located her at her residence and transported her to the Bartholomew County Jail where she remains in lieu of $150,000 bond, jail officials said.

For more on this story, see Friday’s Republic.