Teen charged with manslaughter in Montgomery County

MONTGOMERY COUNTY (KTRK) -- A 17-year-old Huntsville High School student is out of jail on $80,000 bond, accused of killing an 84-year-old woman, and injuring three other members of her family.

The charges against Jared Bruce are intoxication manslaughter and intoxication assault.

Early Sunday morning, according to investigators, Bruce was travelling north on Honea Egypt Road in Montgomery County.

His flatbed pickup swerved into the oncoming path of a Lexus sedan.

The car was pushed off the road, its front crumpled, airbags deployed.

A husband and wife were in the front seats. In the back seat, were their respective mothers, both in their mid 80's.

85-year-old Khatoon Lanewala died at the scene. The other mother is hospitalized in intensive care.

The driver and his wife are hospitalized with serious injuries, but are expected to survive.

Bruce is alleged to have consumed alcohol prior to the crash.

"It's alleged intoxication was the cause of this crash," said DA prosecutor Tyler Dunman. "That's based on evidence at the scene."

Investigators are trying to determine whether Bush might have been at a party in the area where alcohol might have been served.

At age 17, Bruce is four years away from the age at which alcohol can be consumed legally.

If that party was at a home and adults were present when alcohol was consumed, there could be more charges filed.

"If we find adults were providing alcohol to minors, especially minors who are not their children, then that's against the law, and we're looking to pursue charges in those types of situations," Dunman said if no adults were present, but alcohol was available, there could still be legal implications for the property owners.

The family of those injured asked for their privacy, saying they are focused on caring for their loved ones at the hospital.