Trial for DUI Crash Begins in Hinds County
JACKSON, Miss. — The trial for Jada Kelly, charged with aggravated DUI in a fatal crash, commenced on April 1, 2026, in Hinds County Circuit Court.
The incident occurred on January 15, 2023, at the intersection of Canton Mart Road and I-55 Frontage Road, where a Toyota Camry driven by Kelly struck a black Nissan Altima, resulting in the deaths of 47-year-old Azure Higgins and 43-year-old Valerie Lynch. According to authorities, Kelly was arrested at the scene with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.182, over twice the legal limit.
Witnesses reported that emotional testimony was heard from law enforcement who responded to the crash, including body camera footage of Kelly undergoing a sobriety test. Lynch's daughter, Datje Lynch, expressed the family's ongoing grief and desire for justice, stating, “We want justice… as far as healing, I can't say that we're just on that path yet.”
The identity of Kelly's passenger at the time of the crash remains undisclosed. The trial continues as the families await a verdict.