Family members of Adacia Chambers, the driver accused of crashing her vehicle into a crowd of OSU Homecoming onlookers, spoke to the media Monday.
Although the members of the family said they have no answers on how the tragedy occurred, they told reporters their hearts go out to the victims.
Adacia Chambers, 25, was arrested after police said she crashed her vehicle into a crowd during the OSU Homecoming Parade, killing four people, including a two-year-old child, and injuring at least 46 others. She is being held on four counts of second-degree murder.
A bond of $1 million was set by a judge for Chambers on Monday.
Father of the woman who killed 4 people in Oklahoma crash says she was mentally ill https://t.co/qaF8Xk6aqx pic.twitter.com/dIhkzqvF8F
— People magazine (@people) October 26, 2015
Chamber’s father, Floyd Chambers, aunt Lynda Branstetter and boyfriend Jesse Gaylord held a news conference Monday afternoon. Floyd Chambers said they are supporters of the school and the community.
Floyd Chambers said Adacia had been held in a mental hospital for a few weeks before being released. When things did not improve, he said he took her to different facility, where she was released again. He said she was kind, caring, loved music and was a wonderful artist.
Adacia Chambers Faces Murder Charges — Was She Drunk, Suicidal, Or Mentally Ill? https://t.co/CCUVYsp1Qj pic.twitter.com/T4Qbvmd8zY
— Inquisitr News (@theinquisitr) October 26, 2015
“Our hearts go out to those victims, and it was a terrible, terrible thing that has happened. I can’t explain it right now. We don’t have all the answers yet,” said Floyd Chambers. “I spent yesterday thinking about, ‘should I send flowers? What should I do?’ The little girl who’s in the hospital in Tulsa… that just broke my heart. The little boy who’s deceased… that just tore my heart out. I can’t fathom losing a child like that. My heart goes out to that family and the people, the married couple and the young lady, it’s just terrible.”
“This is so not her. This is not her character, ” said Branstetter. “We don’t have the answers. We don’t know what happened either. Because the girl I’ve seen Friday night, the girl that was with me and that walked around, was happy, funny, caring, even the friend who I was with she had met for the first time made that same comment.”
Adacia Chambers' Family: 'Our Hearts Go Out To The Victims' https://t.co/QulKJSjHa2 #News9 pic.twitter.com/8TGu7a40Iy
— News 9 (@NEWS9) October 26, 2015
Adacia’s boyfriend, Jesse Gaylord, told reporters that she seemed at ease the night before the crash, although she had difficulties sleeping. He said he’s never seen Adacia take any prescription medication and rarely drinks.
Gaylord added that he’s never seen her black out and said she’s a cautious driver.
Adacia Chambers’ attorney Tony Coleman filed paperwork at the court clerk’s office Monday, asking for a mental evaluation for Chambers. Coleman said he did not think Chambers was driving under the influence at the time, but was mentally ill.