Texas Driver Arrested in Fatal Smith County DWI Crash

Smith County crash Ashaunti Ahmee Njie Edith Ann Starkes criminally negligent homicide Texas DWI

On January 14, a multi‑vehicle collision occurred on State Highway 64 near Lake Tyler East in Smith County, Texas. The crash involved a red pickup, a 2010 Lexus RX350 driven by 33‑year‑old Ashaunti Ahmee Njie, and a 2011 Kia Sorento traveling south. Witnesses said the Lexus was traveling 75‑80 mph, failed to slow for the pickup, and struck the Kia, killing 86‑year‑old Edith Ann Starkes of Arp.

Investigators obtained dash‑cam video from the pickup driver and found that Njie had drugs in her system that could have impaired her driving. Njie was seriously injured, taken to a local hospital, and later arrested on July 24. She was charged with criminally negligent homicide, booked into the Smith County Jail, and released the following day after posting bond.

Entities: Ashaunti Ahmee Njie · Edith Ann Starkes · Smith County · Smith County, Texas · State Highway 64 · Texas · Texas Department of Public Safety

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] Witnesses reported the Lexus was traveling 75‑80 mph and failed to slow for the pickup. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] The crash involved a red pickup, a 2010 Lexus RX350, and a 2011 Kia Sorento. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] Njie was booked into the Smith County Jail and released after posting bond the next day. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] Njie had drugs in her system at the hospital, possibly impairing her driving. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] Njie was arrested on July 24, 2024, and charged with criminally negligent homicide. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] A crash occurred on January 14 near Lake Tyler East on State Highway 64 in Smith County, Texas. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] The collision resulted in the death of 86‑year‑old Edith Ann Starkes of Arp, Texas. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] The driver of the Lexus was identified as 33‑year‑old Ashaunti Ahmee Njie. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] The crash killed 86‑year‑old Edith Ann Starkes of Arp, Texas. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] The driver of the 2010 Lexus RX350 was identified as 33‑year‑old Ashaunti Ahmee Njie. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] Hospital tests showed Njie had drugs in her system that could have impaired her driving. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)
[● 3 SOURCES] Ashaunti Ahmee Njie was arrested on July 24 and charged with criminally negligent homicide. (a148079e-216e-4e23-9d33-ceb4e6be9db6, 00fa6609-c315-4707-9305-eadad730e17b, 2a98fe37-c73c-4247-a615-f3e5484b8a64)

Sources

Fatal Smith County Crash Leads to Arrest [1470kyyw.com]

3 days ago

Fatal Smith County Crash Leads to Arrest [klaw.com]

3 days ago

Fatal Smith County Crash Leads to Arrest [ktemnews.com]

3 days ago