Hunter
05/21/25
The second teenager involved in a fatal 2023 drag-racing crash has been sentenced.
Kesean Ford was 17 at the time of the May 27th incident, when he and then-17-year-old Elijah Seals were traveling down East Court Street side-by-side when they allegedly failed to stop for the stop sign and collided with 22-year-old Jennifer Russell of Waterloo. She died from her injuries a short time later.
Ford, now 19, was sentenced to the maximum 10 years in prison Monday after pleading guilty to one count of homicide by vehicle traveling more than 25 miles an hour over the posted speed limit. The sentence allows for Ford to be released before serving the full length of his term.
Seals had already taken an Alford plea in September and was given a ten-year suspended sentence.
The Press-Citizen reports as part of their plea deals, Seals and Ford agreed to pay the Russell family $150,000 in victim restitution. Ford is also responsible for approximately $15,000 in additional payments for funeral costs and other minor court expenses.
Seals was arrested last week after he was seen driving a 1993 Chevy K1500 on Wade Street near Wayne Avenue despite having a revoked license. He reportedly fled the traffic stop on foot, but was arrested when he returned to claim his vehicle.
Seals was charged with Driving While Revoked and Driving While Suspended. A probation revocation hearing will be held if his probation officer decides to revoke Seals’ probation or hold him in contempt of court.