Grand Jury To Decide On Charges In Death Of North Pontotoc Student

Amiya Braxton

PONTOTOC COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – A grand jury will decide on charges against the SUV driver who hit and killed a 7-year-old North Pontotoc student last week.

Pontotoc County Sheriff Leo Mask has confirmed to WCBI Monday that the driver is 39-year-old Karen Michelle Carpenter of Saltillo. The investigation is ongoing, which includes a Mississippi Highway Patrol report on an accident reconstruction and a toxicology report.

Investigators will make a presentation to a grand jury in January.

Carpenter swerved as her SUV approached a stopped school bus on Old Highway 9 Oct. 4. She hit and killed 7-year-old Amiya Braxton as she was getting off the bus. Amiya’s eighth birthday would have been Wednesday.

The bus driver pulled Amiya’s older brother, MaMathieon, back onto the bus, saving his life.