Street Racers Who Killed 3 Children Headed To Prison

DECATUR, GA — Two people who police say were street racing at more than 80 m.p.h. in DeKalb County are headed to prison for killing three children in the 2015 incident.

James Benford, 45, and Melanie Putnam, 30, were sentenced by a DeKalb County judge this week. Benford will serve a 30-year sentence for vehicular homicide and reckless driving and Putnam will serve a 12-month sentence for reckless driving.

The two were drag racing on Moreland Avenue on April 12, 2015, when one of their cars struck Cazhara Lovett and her three children — Jaylen Coleman, 6, Jordan Coleman, 4, and Lauren Coleman, 3. According to the DeKalb County District Attorney's Office, Jordan and Lauren were killed instantly and Jaylen died a few days later at a hospital.

The crash happened on Moreland Avenue near Interstate 285 and the Starlight Drive-In. Investigators said Benford was going 83 m.p.h. at the time of the crash.

Lead image via GoFundMe. Mugshots courtesy DeKalb County Sheriff's Office.