Driver Charged In Crash That Killed Mom, Baby In Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, GA — The Cherokee Sheriff's Office has charged the driver of a vehicle that killed a mother, her infant and another pedestrian in September 2017 near the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater in downtown Woodstock.

Zoe Thomasina Reardon, 18, of Atlanta, has been charged with three counts of vehicular homicide in the second degree, two counts of vehicular homicide, distracted driving, failure to yield to pedestrian in the roadway and use of electronic communication device under the age of 18, the Cherokee Sheriff's Office said.

Kaitlin Hunt, who was carrying her three-month-old Riley Marie Hunt in her arms, and Kathleen Mary Deming of Marietta were crossing Arnold Mill Road near Hubbard Road around 8:6 p.m. Sept. 9, 2017, when they were hit by a Jeep Patriot driven by Reardon, who was 17 at the time of the crash. The Jeep was traveling westbound on Arnold Mill Road towards Main Street near the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Amphitheater.

Baby Riley died the night of the collision while Hunt and Deming were transported to WellStar Kennestone Hospital. Hunt succumbed to her injuries on Sept. 12 while Deming, 61, died a week later on Sept. 19.

As readers recall, Hunt lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida, with her husband, Brandon Hunt, and their daughter. Kaitlin Hunt's father made the decision to relocate his daughter and granddaughter to Georgia due to Hurricane Irma threatening Florida. Hunt, her father, Deming, Riley and a few others were enjoying a night out together in downtown Woodstock when the fatal crash took place.

When asked about the gap between the accident and Reardon's arrest, Cherokee Sheriff's Office spokesperson Sgt. Marianne Kelley said detectives "wanted to complete a thorough investigation" of the fatal collision.

According to a warrant, Reardon is accused of unintentionally causing the death of Deming, Riley and Kaitlin Hunt when she failed to use due care by putting away her cell phone, which "distracted her from the safe operation" of her vehicle.

She was also charged with not exercising due care when she "failed to give warning by sounding her horn when necessary." The warrant also states Reardon used her Apple iPhone to send her parents a text message, but did not use the phone to alert authorities and emergency personnel of the accident.

Jail records show Reardon was booked into the facility on Monday, May 14. Sgt. Kelley said Reardon posted bond and has been released.

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Photo: Zoe Reardon. Credit: Cherokee Sheriff's Office