KALAMAZOO TOWNSHIP (WKZO-AM) — A Kalamazoo woman has been charged with three felony counts and a misdemeanor for allegedly driving drunk and killing a preschooler on April 1.
The most serious charge leveled at 24-year-old Nicole Holly Camden is driving while intoxicated causing death, which is a 15-year felony.
Kalamazoo Township police reports say Camden had a blood alcohol content that was just over twice the legal limit when she picked up her boyfriend, Jewell Cotton, from work. She had Cotton’s son and her own son in the back seat at the time.
The report says she lost control on a curve on the U.S. 131 business loop and rolled her van.
Cotton’s 4-year-old son, Jayden Johnson, was ejected and died from the resulting injuries. Her 6-year-old son was not injured. Cotton and Camden both suffered minor injuries.
Camden is also charged with two counts of driving drunk with children on board and a misdemeanor count of having an open intoxicant in the vehicle.
She is being held on $10,000 bond at the Kalamazoo County Jail.
The curve on the business loop that feeds into North Westnedge Avenue has been the scene of multiple fatal accidents.
