Published: May 21, 2009 10:20 am      

UPDATED: DRIVER ARRESTED IN DEATH OF 11-YEAR-OLD

O’Brien woman charged with vehicular homicide

An O'Brien woman has been arrested on charges of vehicular homicide in the January death of an 11-year-old girl. Nicole Marie Sallas, 25, turned herself in to authorities Wednesday after a warrant was issued for her arrest earlier that day, jail records show.

Eleven-year-old Alyssa Jones was killed in a single-vehicle crash on 89th Road near O'Brien Jan. 10. Alyssa, the right front passenger in a 2003 Pontiac SUV driven by Sallas, was ejected when the southbound vehicle traveled onto the east shoulder and overturned, said FHP. The vehicle came to rest after striking a pine tree with its right side. Alyssa was a fifth-grader at Branford Elementary School. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Sallas and the other two passengers, Marjorie Jones, 2, and Elizabeth Jones, infant, were treated for injuries at Shands Live Oak.

The 12:52 p.m. crash occurred about three miles north of O'Brien.

Neither Alyssa nor Sallas was wearing a seat belt, said FHP. The younger children were not properly restrained either, accident reports indicate.

Sallas was arrested by FHP Cpl. JT Stalnaker Jr. and booked into the Suwannee County Jail.

A high bond amount was sought due to the belief that Sallas was a flight risk, FHP records show. Bond was set at $10,000.