Shelby County District Attorney: Motorist Indicted In DUI-Related Crash That Killed Baby Son, Other Passenger

Press release from the Shelby County District Attorney:

November 5, 2021

Nov. 5, 2021 – A motorist who crashed while driving at a high of speed earlier this year on I-240 Midtown now faces multiple felony counts for the incident that killed two passengers, including his 2-year-old son, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

    Defendant Kenneth Orange Jr., 33, was indicted on felony counts of vehicular homicide involving intoxication over .08, recklessness and drugs (cocaine); aggravated assault; DUI involving intoxication, drugs (cocaine), child accompaniment, and death; and reckless driving. He is being held on $200,000 bond.

    The one-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2021, as Orange was driving northbound on I-240 approaching Lamar Avenue. Witnesses said he was traveling at a high rate of speed while swerving in and out of traffic.

   Orange lost control, struck a concrete barrier, spun onto the road’s grassy shoulder, hit a large metal sign post, slid backward and slammed into a tree. Two backseat passengers - Kennise Orange, 2, and Toronzo Parrish, 20 – were killed in the crash, while a 22-year-old man in the front seat and Orange were injured.

    Investigators said they found open containers of alcoholic beverages in the driver’s compartment of the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix.

    The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Vanessa Murtaugh of the District Attorney’s DUI Prosecution Unit which works with local law enforcement to reduce DUI-related fatalities and injuries in Shelby County.           

Nov. 5, 2021 – A motorist who crashed while driving at a high of speed earlier this year on I-240 Midtown now faces multiple felony counts for the incident that killed two passengers, including his 2-year-old son, said Shelby County Dist. Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich.

    Defendant Kenneth Orange Jr., 33, was indicted on felony counts of vehicular homicide involving intoxication over .08, recklessness and drugs (cocaine); aggravated assault; DUI involving intoxication, drugs (cocaine), child accompaniment, and death; and reckless driving. He is being held on $200,000 bond.

    The one-vehicle crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2021, as Orange was driving northbound on I-240 approaching Lamar Avenue. Witnesses said he was traveling at a high rate of speed while swerving in and out of traffic.

   Orange lost control, struck a concrete barrier, spun onto the road’s grassy shoulder, hit a large metal sign post, slid backward and slammed into a tree. Two backseat passengers - Kennise Orange, 2, and Toronzo Parrish, 20 – were killed in the crash, while a 22-year-old man in the front seat and Orange were injured.

    Investigators said they found open containers of alcoholic beverages in the driver’s compartment of the 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix.

    The case is being handled by Asst. Dist. Atty. Vanessa Murtaugh of the District Attorney’s DUI Prosecution Unit which works with local law enforcement to reduce DUI-related fatalities and injuries in Shelby County.           

This press release was produced by the Shelby County District Attorney. The views expressed here are the author’s own.