Honk News (Birmingham, AL) – Authorities in Alabama reported the arrest of a man on Wednesday in connection with the tragic death of a young girl who was riding her scooter when a vehicle struck her.
John David Winton, 45, faces a charge of manslaughter, according to records from Shelby County Jail.
The family of 10-year-old Ember Alana Poe expresses that the man’s arrest is a relief and has been anticipated for quite some time.
A tragic event took place shortly before 5:15 p.m. on November 5, 2024, as Ember rode her scooter on Spring Creek Road in Montevallo, a quaint college town situated approximately 35 miles due south of Birmingham, as detailed in a press release from the Montevallo Police Department.
The crash is under investigation by the Shelby County Traffic Homicide Task Force. In the meantime, Ember received care from the dedicated staff at Children’s of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham, where she ultimately lost her battle with her injuries.
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“We were in the PICU for eight days,” the girl’s mother, Kelly Poe, recently wrote on social media. “On day seven, they declared brain death. I had to tell them to stop and take my baby off life support.”
The girl’s obituary remembers her fondly. “You were bigger than the whole sky,” a piece of graphic art featuring the girl’s picture reads.
Winton was initially taken into custody for possessing drugs and related items linked to the accident, as per court documents. At the time the child suffered fatal injuries, he was reportedly in possession of cocaine and a burnt glass pipe.
The accused subsequently managed to secure bail on the original allegations. After that, he returned to his job, according to the report.
Winton’s role brought additional suffering to the family.
The defendant’s required closeness to Ember’s family, coupled with the drug-related accusations, fueled her mourning mother’s anger as the case unfolded over the weeks and months.
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“He is the maintenance guy at my apartment complex,” Kelly Poe wrote earlier this week. “I have to see this man and the truck he hit her with (that still had the damage where he hit her) every f–––ing day. I’ve contacted management, and was basically told ‘he has to do his job, you can move.’”
The mother of the girl has also alleged that the defendant was speeding at 50 mph in a 35 mph zone at the time of the accident.
Winton is presently held on a bond set at $30,000.