Dothan, AL – On June 28, 2026, just before 2:00 p.m., the Dothan Police Department Traffic Division responded to a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries at the intersection of South Lena Street and West Lafayette Street.
According to reports, a vehicle ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle traveling through the intersection. Investigators stated the vehicle that failed to stop was a 2016 Toyota Camry driven by a 12-year-old juvenile. A juvenile passenger was ejected from the vehicle during the crash.
As the investigation continued, surveillance video from the area reportedly showed the Camry and a 2014 Hyundai Elantra driven by Jadyn Ruth Smith, 20, of Daleville, racing through residential streets prior to the collision. Authorities also stated the footage showed the ejected passenger seated on a rear door windowsill before the crash, while the vehicle driven by Smith had two juvenile passengers also seated on rear windowsills during the reckless driving behavior.
The video showed the Camry running the stop sign and striking another vehicle that was proceeding through the intersection without a stop sign.
The 14-year-old juvenile who was ejected was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and later transferred to another hospital in North Alabama, where he remains in critical condition.
Following the investigation, charges were filed against multiple individuals. The 12-year-old juvenile driver was charged with four counts of first-degree assault and placed in the Southeast Alabama Diversion Center. Jadyn Smith was also charged with four counts of first-degree assault and booked into the Houston County Jail with bonds totaling $120,000. Additionally, the legal guardian of the 12-year-old, Brenda Bragg Raines, 72, of Dothan, was charged with one count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and booked into the Houston County Jail with a $6,000 bond.
Authorities stated the video evidence showed extremely reckless behavior and a disregard for human life, emphasizing that drivers are responsible for the safety of passengers and others on the roadway.
