Crash report reveals new details about a deadly wreck amid custody battle

ABC 17 News has obtained the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report that details the fatal crash stemming from a custody dispute.

The crash involved Demetres Washington and Mackenzie Quiovers in one vehicle with Washington’s three children. In the other car were Dianna Mays, the children’s aunt, and Shirley Cruz, the children’s grandmother.

Court records indicate before the crash, Washington lured the children from the aunt’s home, where they were staying, and into her car. Mays and Cruz drove after Washington on to Interstate 70 west, where the crash happened.

In the full crash report from MSHP, Washington was driving behind Mays who was driving in the center of the lanes to prevent Washington from passing. Mays moved into the right-hand lane and Washington onto the shoulder. At one point, the vehicles collided, with Mays’ passenger side and Washington’s driver side touching.

The report said Washington maneuvered her car in front of Mays’ and lost control. Washington’s car crossed the center of the roadway, going into the left-hand lane and started sliding. The report indicated Washington over-corrected and crossed the center of the roadway again.

Washington’s vehicle ended up back in the right-hand lane, rotated clockwise and went off the right side of the roadway. The report indicates Washington’s vehicle hit the guardrail and flipped, ejecting one of the children.

The full crash report also has statements from drivers, passengers and witnesses.

According to Mays, she was driving in the center of the road to block traffic. She said her mother, Cruz, was trying to get drivers nearby to call the police. Mays said she moved into the right-hand lane and Washington was behind her. Mays said Washington didn’t have anywhere to go except the exit ramp. Mays claims she was swerving before the crash but not during the time of the crash.

According to Cruz, traffic was slow behind the car she was in and Washington’s. Cruz claims Washington pulled up on the passenger side of Mays’ car, hitting the side of the car. Cruz said when Washington hit Mays’ car, Washington swung her car to the right, the left, then right again before flipping.

Highway Patrol investigators were not able to obtain a statement from Washington. When they contacted her in a Columbia rehab facility, Washington gave them a letter from a person claiming to be her lawyer stating she would not be providing a statement.

In Quiovers’ statement, Quiovers claims Washington was driving on the right side of Mays’ SUV when Mays swerved and hit them.

Investigators also spoke to the children who were riding in Washington’s car. One of the children said Washington was going side to side and driving fast. The child said they had looked for seat belts to buckle up but part of the seat belt was pushed down into the seat and they weren’t able to buckle up. The other child said they were heading toward Kansas City.

Multiple witness statements were also included in the crash report.

Many reported seeing the car Mays was driving driving down the center of the roadway and swerving back and forth. Others reported also seeing Washington’s car swerving. One witness thought Mays was trying to prevent Washington from passing.

Witnesses also reported traffic behind the women had slowed to anywhere between 35 and 45 miles per hour.

Two witnesses reported they thought Mays “forced” or “pushed” Washington off the road.

Another witness told troopers it appeared this was a road-rage incident. When first investigating the crash on the scene, troopers also told ABC 17 News, they were investigating the possibility this was a road-rage crash.

Washington is currently in the Boone County jail and charged with three counts of kidnapping and one count of second-degree murder for the death of her daughter Shianna Mays, who died from injuries suffered in the crash.

Quiovers is also charged with three counts of kidnapping and one count of second-degree murder. In March, she was released from the Boone County Jail on an ROR bond to go to the hospital for treatment. The terms of her bond included her returning to the jail after her treatment, however, she did not return and has been on the run since, officials said.

There is currently an extraditable arrest warrant for Quiovers.

The bond for each woman is $1 million.

Mays and Cruz have not been charged with any crimes in connection to this crash.