Melton was driving a 2019 Dodge Charger around 2:50 p.m. Oct. 14, 2020, east on Old Dayton Road when he lost control near Diamond Mill Road. The car then went off the left side of the roadway, crashed into a guardrail, a utility pole and a mailbox before overturning twice into a cornfield, according to a traffic crash report filed by the Perry Twp. Police Department.
Kaden M. Melton of West Alexandria, an eighth-grader at Twin Valley South Middle School, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected out the back window before the car rolled onto him, killing him, according to a statement from Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr.
The car was traveling 103 mph in a 45 mph zone at the time of the crash, the prosecutor’s office said.
Melton called 911 after the crash.
“I hit a pole coming over the hill,” he said. “There was a car in the other lane and I swerved and missed it. I hit a pole and guardrail and landed in the cornfield.”
Melton and a 29-year-old Eaton woman riding in the front passenger seat suffered minor injuries.
“The tragic and senseless death of this 13-year-old boy could have so easily been prevented. In addition to driving well over double the posted speed limit, this defendant didn’t even check to make sure his son was wearing his seat belt. There is simply no excuse for such reckless and criminal behavior,” Heck stated.
Melton will remain free until his sentencing next month.
He faces up to 16½ years in prison and his driver’s license will be suspended for five years to life, according to plea documents.
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