4-year-old on way home from spring break killed by accused drunk driver, TX cops say
A 4-year-old boy died when his family’s SUV was rear-ended during their return trip from Texas to Alabama, police told news outlets.
Judah Cleveland’s parents, Jasmine and Jamel Cleveland, had taken him to Dallas for spring break, along with his sister and brother, according to WIAT. They left early March 16, around 4 a.m., to make the 585-mile drive back to Tuscaloosa.
“The kids can see the city of Dallas light up and I can avoid the traffic,” Jamel Cleveland told WIAT.
Half an hour later on eastbound Highway 80, according to AL.com, their lives changed forever.
The Sunnyvale Police Department in Texas responded to a call about the crash around 4:30 a.m, according to WBRC. Dakota Chase, 33, rear-ended the family’s SUV with his pickup truck, police said.
Police arrested Chase, who is charged with Intoxication Manslaughter and Intoxication Assault, and a passenger, who is charged with public intoxication, according to WBRC.
“Today, my baby is in the arms of the One he loved so dearly,” Jasmine Cleveland wrote on Facebook. “My heart is shattered, but I take comfort knowing he is with Jesus.”
Judah was in the third row of seats when he was struck and killed, police said, according to AL.com.
The rest of the family was injured in the crash and have needed surgeries and follow-up care, according to a GoFundMe. Jasmine Cleveland’s jaw had to be wired shut after surgery, she wrote on Facebook.
“To know that the carelessness of a drunk driver took my baby’s life hurts so bad,” Jasmine Cleveland wrote.
Darius Bramlett, a family friend, told WBRC the Clevelands were in town visiting family members.
“It makes you angry, honestly, just to think that someone would be so senseless, and then your actions take the life of a precious 4-year-old child,” Bramlett said.
WIAT reported March 31 would have marked Judah’s fifth birthday.
“Knowing that he’s not here, he’s not coming home, he’s not coming back with us, it’s different,” Jamel Cleveland said to the outlet.
This story was originally published March 24, 2025 at 10:12 AM with the headline "4-year-old on way home from spring break killed by accused drunk driver, TX cops say."
