Teen Driver Avoids Jail In Woodstock Crash That Killed Mom, Baby

WOODSTOCK, GA -- A 19-year-old will avoid jail after she pleaded guilty to a deadly crash in 2017.

Zoe Thomasina Reardon, 19 of Atlanta, was sentenced to 36 months of probation, must complete 240 hours of community service and safe driver training, according to media reports. She also must pay about $4,000 in fines that she can reduce if she donates to a foundation that works to combat distracted driving, the AJC reported, and her license will be suspended for between 12 and 36 months.

Reardon was charged last May 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.

Reardon was 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.

Investigators have determined Reardon was not speeding nor under the influence. However, at the time of the crash there were no crosswalks or streetlights in the area, and the victims were wearing dark clothing. Now, there are traffic lights and a marked pedestrian crossing. Reardon maintains she did not see anyone coming.

Her attorneys attempted to get the distracted driving charge removed, saying they were too vague. Investigators have determined Reardon did send her father a text message three minutes prior to the crash. She has said she reportedly sent the text while the vehicle was stopped, put her phone in her backpack and was looking forward when the crash occured.

Kaitlin Hunt, who was carrying her 3-month-old Riley Marie Hunt in her arms, and Kathleen Mary Deming of Marietta were crossing Arnold Mill Road near Hubbard Road 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 toward 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, 2018 while Deming, 61, died a week later on Sept. 19, 2018.

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 was 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.

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