Published: August 06, 2009 08:27 am      

Uncle arrested for death of teen

By Adam Sulfridge / Staff Writer

A local man wanted by Kentucky State Police was arrested by members of the Fort Payne Police Department in Alabama around 2:31 a.m. Wednesday morning.

James Harold Jones was wanted by Kentucky authorities on charges of reckless homicide and driving on a DUI suspended license.

On July 4, Jones’ niece fell out of the back of the vehicle Jones was driving. His niece, 13-year-old Hailee Martin, was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center to be treated for head trauma. Days later, she died from injuries sustained in the accident.

After contacting the Kentucky State Police and verifying that Jones was, in fact, the man listed on the National Crime Information Center database, Fort Payne police placed him under arrest without incident.

According to Public Affairs Officer Don Trosper, Jones is lodged in the Fort Payne City Jail pending extradition to Whitley County.

Kentucky State Police Detective Colan Harrell is in charge of the investigation.