Baby dies in fiery road rage crash, IN cops say. Mom and other driver charged

A 10-month-old baby died in a fiery crash caused by road rage from two drivers, including the child’s mother, Indiana authorities say.

The LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office said drivers of a Nissan Rogue and a Jeep Liberty were traveling westbound on County Road 400 North on June 27 when they were involved “in a back-and-forth road rage incident.”

The Nissan, driven by 29-year-old Deondra Moore, left the road and crashed into several trees before catching fire, authorities said. Moore escaped, as did a 10-year-old boy and 10-month-old child.

One other passenger — a second 10-month-old — was stuck inside the SUV, but deputies were unable to get close because of “the intense flames,” authorities said.

By the time firefighters extinguished the blaze, the baby had died, the sheriff said. She was identified as Khleja’nae L. Sims.

Authorities said the driver of the Rogue, 26-year-old Felisha Stout, left the scene before returning a few minutes later. She was charged with leaving the scene of a fatality crash and jailed on a $20,005 cash bond.

Moore was charged with reckless homicide, according to the sheriff, who said she was jailed on a $15,005 bond.

“The circumstances of this crash are unequivocally inexcusable,” Captain Derek J. Allen said in a statement. “The arrestees are being held accountable for their actions and for the death of a defenseless Khleja’nae.”

LaPorte County is about a 65-mile drive southeast from Chicago.

This story was originally published June 30, 2025 at 9:06 AM with the headline "Baby dies in fiery road rage crash, IN cops say. Mom and other driver charged."