HAMPTON, Va. — Family members of the 1-year-old boy who died Thursday after a DUI crash in Hampton early Monday morning tell WTKR News 3 the 14-year-old driver is the child's mother.
Family members say the baby boy's name was Ma'Khai. News 3 is choosing not to identify the teen.
"I’ve been in his life since day 1. This is the hardest," Ma'Khai's grandmother, April Logan, said.
Watch: 14-year-old driver and infant seriously injured in Hampton DUI crash: VSP
Friday afternoon, News 3 Hampton reporter Colter Anstaett spoke with Ma'Khai's family members, including his paternal grandmother and godparents.
Family videos shared with News 3 show Ma'Khai enjoying life. Friday, just shy of his second birthday, the videos were some of the precious memories his family was clinging to as they tried to cope with an unimaginable tragedy.
They said Ma'Khai would have turned 2 on April 4.
Watch: Fatal crash under investigation at Hampton intersection
Logan tells News 3 her 17-year-old son is Ma'Khai's father. While she's angry, she said she can’t hate Ma’Khai’s mother.
“The Lord, my spirit, won’t let me. My spirit won’t let me," said Logan.
According to Virginia State Police, Ma'Khai's mother was not wearing a seatbelt and did not have the child properly restrained when she crashed on I-64 in Hampton near the 261 mile marker.
Watch: 11 cars involved in series of crashes on I-64 in Hampton, 2 hurt: VSP
Both were seriously injured in the crash, according to VSP. As of Friday, Ma'Khai's mother was charged with driving under the influence, driving without a license and a child restraint violation, with other charges pending.
Family members said they did not know where she got the car and, as of Friday, VSP had not clarified what Ma'Khai's mother was accused of being under the influence of.
Ma’Khai’s godfather, Donte Walls, had a message for young people.
"Be more responsible," he said. "Stop trying to outgrow your age and just be your age. There’s nothing wrong with being a teenager. Stop thinking that you’re grown."
As of Friday, the crash remains under investigation.
