A Georgetown man is facing manslaughter charges after a horrific high-speed crash that killed a pedestrian last year. Kevonte Lamont McConnell Hawkins, 31, was arrested on Wednesday, accused of driving nearly twice the speed limit and striking 30-year-old Colter Davis-Nelson on a roadway in Georgetown.
As per CBS Austin, the crash occurred on December 1st, 2023, in an area marked with construction warnings, where the speed limit is 45 mph. Hawkins' vehicle struck Davis-Nelson with such force that the victim was launched over 300 feet, and parts of his body were recovered from separate spots at the scene, the affidavit revealed.
Hawkins, who claimed he was only going 60 mph and hadn't seen Davis-Nelson due to an eye condition, actually was driving between 94 and 100 mph at the time of the crash, according to data retrieved from his vehicle's event recorder. The investigation found that the windshield and windows of Hawkins' vehicle were heavily tinted, which is illegal in Texas and could have contributed to the incident.
After the gruesome discovery, officers noted that "Hawkins’ windshield and windows were heavily tinted," to the point where the tint allowed only 10% of the light to enter, an illegal level according to the Austin American-Statesman. Hawkins also admitted to police that he didn't realize his speed because his music was turned up and acknowledged that he had been previously cited for speeding in the same construction zone.
Moreover, Hawkins has a recorded history of vehicular crimes, including involvement in street takeovers in Austin. Footage from these events shows him engaging in reckless behavior such as hitting other vehicles and performing burnouts. At the time of his arrest, Hawkins was being held in Williamson County Jail with a bond set at $100,000.
