Mother Charged With Murder In Crash That Killed 4-Year-Old Son

On January 27, the mother of a 4-year-old boy who died of the personal injuries he suffered in a crash in Catawba County on January 18 was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder.

According to North Carolina State Troopers, 21-year-old Tina Travis had been consuming alcohol before the crash, in which she collided with a parked car in a convenience store parking lot at the corner of Startown Road and Blackburn Bridge Road west of Maiden. Troopers said the car’s owner tried to call police, but Travis sped off, lost control of her pickup truck, and struck three trees. She and her son, Anthony Wright, were ejected from the vehicle.

At the time of the crash, Wright was standing in the front seat without a seat belt on. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Travis suffered serious injuries and was released from the hospital on January 26.

According to troopers, at the time of the crash, Travis was traveling at an estimated speed of 80-90 mph and driving without a license. Her license had been revoked due to prior DWI charge. She was convicted once in 2007 and arrested on another DWI charge in December of 2009.

Travis is currently being held in Catawba County Jail on $150,000 bond.