Driver In Fatal Tulsa Auto-Ped Accident Charged With 2nd Degree Murder

An underage driver has now been charged in an accident that killed an 11-year-old Tulsa boy. A week after the accident, 15-year-old Melissa Warren faces a second degree murder charge. <br/><br/>Tulsa

Wednesday, September 20th 2006, 4:17 pm

By: News On 6

An underage driver has now been charged in an accident that killed an 11-year-old Tulsa boy. A week after the accident, 15-year-old Melissa Warren faces a second degree murder charge.

Tulsa Police say Warren was driving about 60 miles per hour in a 25 mile an hour zone. Her car spun out of control, hit Fabian Saenz, and smashed into the neighborâ€™s house.

Tulsa County District Attorney Tim Harris says speeding and evidence that the girl may have been racing another car were factors in his decision to charge her. Harris says he wants this charge to send a message to other kids. "Yeah, I hope the community pays attention. Yeah, I hope other teenagers pay attention to this. This is serious business. A boy is dead, and a girl is being prosecuted for second degree murder, it doesn't get more serious than this."

Harris says the investigation is on-going and more people could be prosecuted.

Warren is charged as a youthful offender, but that could change and she could face the charges as an adult.

Harris says Warren will be transferred from the Tulsa County Juvenile Detention Center to the Tulsa County jail where she be held separately from the rest of the jail population.