16-year-old charged in Huntersville head-on crash that injured child, killed woman, 2 dogs

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — In the middle of the holiday season, Katie Overfield’s family was unexpectedly hit with heartbreak.

Her mother, Lisa Overfield, died in a head-on collision in Huntersville. Her 4-year-old son suffered a few broken bones.

Lisa Overfield’s fiancé remains unconscious at the hospital.

Katie Overfield learned of the news and immediately jumped in the car and drove from Georgia to North Carolina.

"He's 5 1/2 hours away from me, and any mom, what do you do? I jumped in the car and drove,” she said.

Jonathan Bales, a 16-year-old driver, has been charged in connection with the deadly crash that happened just days before the new year.

A judge made Bales’ bond unsecure on Friday and ordered him to wear an electronic monitor and abide by a curfew.

He was arrested on Thursday and is charged with involuntary manslaughter and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon with serious injury.

The crash happened Dec. 30 on McCoy Road, between Beatties Ford and Hambright roads.

Officials said the Honda Accord that Bales was in struck a Jeep Patriot head-on.

Two dogs in the Jeep were also killed in the collision.

Katie Overfield told Channel 9 her son had been spending time with his grandmother and visiting other family members in North Carolina.

"I'm a very firm believer that God was with them because, if not, my son would not be here,” Katie Overfield said.

While thankful her son survived, Katie Overfield is sad that she only has memories left with her mother.

"Just to build memories, because we are firm believers that you never know what's going to happen tomorrow,” she said. "Anybody that knew my mom, or my mom ever took care of, loved her. We've had phone calls and people reach out to us about how great our mom was."

Bales and another 16-year-old in the Honda were hospitalized with minor injuries.

Bales' next court date is scheduled for Jan. 28.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:

Cox Media Group