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Woman driving child-filled van in fatal crash had prior traffic violations

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 10, 2009

Amanda Nelson

TAMPA - As traffic homicide investigators consider charges against a woman who was driving a van full of children – all of whom were not restrained by seat belts or child seats – a check of her driving record shows a prior seat belt citation.

Amanda Nelson was behind the wheel of the van, which was carrying 11 children ages 3 to 15 to a youth sporting event. The 34-year-old woman failed to adjust for slowing traffic and lost control of the 2000 Chrysler Voyager as it headed south on Lynn-Turner Road near Village View Drive about 10 a.m. Monday.

One of the children, Anja-J'Kovi Jackson, 7, who is Nelson's daughter, died at St. Joseph's Hospital on Wednesday from injuries received in the crash.

"There is a criminal investigation under way," Hillsborough County sheriff's spokesman J.D. Callaway said. "We are conferring with prosecutors to determine a course of action. It could range from a criminal charge to a civil citation and anywhere between."

Nelson was arrested in April on a charge of driving with a suspended license, and a check of her prior driving record shows several citations.

In July, she was cited for speeding, records show.

In March 2007, she was cited for driving with a suspended license, records show.

In February 2006, she was cited for not having a child restrained and driving with an expired tag, records show. She also was charged with driving with a suspended license.

Her license has been suspended at least three times for not paying fines or for allowing her personal injury and property insurance to lapse.

State records show that Nelson has a current driver's license that expires in 2012.

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