An Oklahoma mother who welcomed her miracle daughter just two years ago was tragically mowed down in a freak sledding accident — and her two friends who were behind the wheel were charged with her murder.
Makayla Mitchell, 31, hitched a sled to the back of 22-year-old Angel Walzier’s car late Sunday night while the pair went for a joyride around Oklahoma City. Their other friend, 24-year-old James Kirk, trailed behind them in his own vehicle.
Mitchell was holding onto a rope that was tied to Walzier’s bumper — but it frayed and snapped, leaving the young mother stranded on the sled in the middle of the road.
Kirk, following just behind, allegedly slammed into Mitchell, killing her almost instantly, KTUL reported.
Both men showed signs of impairment and were arrested at the scene, police said. They were booked on second-degree murder charges and aggravated DUI charges. Kirk faces an additional charge for child endangerment, though it’s unclear if Mitchell’s 2-year-old daughter was involved in the accident.
Mitchell’s sister, Ladiedra Love, told the outlet that the men should be absolved of the charges.
“I really don’t feel like they should be locked up for it. My sister wouldn’t want it. It would really just be another loss to the community,” Love said.
Love also revealed that Mitchell’s greatest pride was her daughter, Genesis, whom she was blessed with after struggles with infertility.
“She didn’t even know she could have children. The doctor said she couldn’t and she prayed for her. She got her, and it was a happy moment for all of us,” Love told the outlet.
In a GoFundMe organized by Love, she writes that the fatal accident came about through “a series of reckless and impaired decisions by others.”
“Makayla wasn’t just a name in a news headline; she was a vibrant soul who lived for her family. Those who knew her remember her infectious laugh that could light up the darkest room, her resilient spirit and the way she always put others before herself, [and] her greatest joy: being a mother to her beautiful daughter,” she wrote on the fundraiser.
Mitchell will be laid to rest on Feb. 7. The GoFundMe, which will go towards the funeral and a fund for Genesis, has raised just over $500.
In Texas, 16-year-old Elizabeth Angle died in a similar sledding accident on Sunday. She and her best friend were riding on a sled that was hitched to the back of a Jeep, but careened off course and collided with a tree.
