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3-Year-Old Girl Dies After Oakland County Drunk Driving Crash: 'Smart, Silly, Sassy Little Girl'

Tabatha Brown
Tabatha Brown (Family photo via GoFundMe)

PONTIAC (WWJ) - A 3-year-old girl has died of injuries she sustained in an alleged drunken driving crash over the weekend.

Oakland County Sheriff's officials said Tabatha Brown of Waterford Twp. was pronounced dead by doctors at Beaumont Hospital at around 11 p.m. Tuesday, after a few days on life support.

Authorities said Ieshia Barnes of Pontiac had a blood alcohol level of nearly two-times the legal limit when she ran a red light at Woodward Ave. and South Blvd. Saturday night, crashing into the van in which Tabatha was riding with her family.

Tabatha's 23-year-old mother was also critically injured in the accident, along with two boys, ages 2 and 16.

Ieshia Barnes
Ieshia Barnes (credit: Oakalnd County Sheriff's Office)

Barnes was arraigned Monday in 50th District Court on three counts of operating while intoxicated causing serious injury, a 5-year felony. Bond was set at $500,000 cash/surety, no 10 percent.

Oakland County Sheriff's Crash Reconstruction Investigators said Wednesday they'll be meeting with prosecutors to further review the case regarding possible additional or amended charges against Barnes.

She is scheduled to be back in 50th District Court for a probable cause hearing on April 28.

Meantime, family members have set up a GoFundMe account to collect donations for Tabatha's funeral.

A message on the page reads: "Tabatha has gained her angel wings. She went to heaven yesterday to live with her grandma that she was named after. She was a smart, silly, sassy little girl who loved her family especially her parents, baby brother and her cousin Jr. She has always been a princess but now she is a hero as she is giving the gift of life to others. We now need money to properly say goodbye so please continue to bless us with your generosity and kind thoughts and prayers."

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