Mother of child killed in I-85 crash involving UNC student wants justice

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Saturday, August 8, 2015
Mother of dead child wants justice
The mother of a 6-year-old killed in a triple-fatal wrong way crash spoke with ABC11 on Friday

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- The mother of a little girl killed in a wrong-way crash on I-85 last month told ABC11 Friday she's doing her best to cope with the loss of her only child.

Three people lost their lives in the accident. Shanice Beard's 6-year-old daughter Jahnice was laid to rest this past Friday.

"I'm not doing so well, but I'm trying to do better ... as good as I can," said Beard. "I'm a little angry, but anger is not going to bring anybody back."

An online fundraiser has been set up to help the little girl's family with expenses.

Click here for more information

Darlene McGee, 46, of Charlotte, her friend Felecia Harris, 49, of Charlotte, also died when their vehicle collided with a Jeep driven by Chandler Kania.

Darlene McGee, Felecia Harris and Jahnice Beard
images courtesy family

Jahnice had just graduated kindergarten and was gearing up to attend first grade. She was down from New York visiting her grandmother when she was killed.

"She was just a happy 6-year-old," said her mom. "She loved everybody. Everybody loved her."

Kania is now facing three counts of second-degree murder. Prosecutors say his blood-alcohol content was twice the legal limit at the time of the crash and he had marijuana in his system.

Kania attends college at UNC-Chapel Hill. He's out of jail after his family posted a million dollar bond. The 20-year-old is scheduled to go back before a judge next month.

Beard says she has no problem facing him in court and may attend the hearing.

"I just want justice for my child, and I just want him to live with what he did," said Beard.

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