Driver who crashed into family’s car pleads guilty to two counts of first-degree murder

The woman who crashed into a family’s car in 2019 while fleeing from police in a stolen SUV has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree felony murder.

On Wednesday, Mia Collins entered a plea agreement with the prosecution, avoiding a jury trial by pleading guilty to the murder charges, as well as three counts of aggravated battery and a count of attempting to elude an officer.

The Wichita crash killed 70-year-old Maria Wood and her 12-year-old granddaughter, Rosemary McElroy. Wood’s daughter, well-known local musician Jenny Wood, and a 65-year-old man in a third vehicle were also injured in the wreck.

Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush found Collins guilty on all six charges after confirming that she understood her rights and could opt for a jury trial if she preferred.

“We have jurors ready to go. We can have a trial next week if you don’t think you’re guilty or you don’t remember or you’re not sure,” Roush told Collins.

Collins, who was 24 at the time of the fatal crash, broke down in tears several times during the hearing, including when she was asked to confirm that Wood and McElroy both died as a result of the wreck that she caused.

According to an arrest affidavit released by Sedgwick County District Court in May 2019, Collins smoked meth right before driving the stolen SUV. It says that when she noticed a Wichita police officer following her, she told a passenger in the car with her “I can’t go back to jail, I have dope on me.”

The affidavit also says that on the way to the hospital after the crash, Collins apologized “for killing them.”

Court records show that prior to the crash, Collins had just spent three days in jail for violating her probation for a 2018 theft.

Jenny Wood, who was severely injured in the crash, sued the city of Wichita in August 2020, claiming the police officer attempting to arrest Collins should not have initiated the high-speed chase.

“This tragic case arises from a total lack of training of a Wichita Police Department officer,” the lawsuit alleges. “Because of this lack of training, Officer Joshua Gilmore initiated a high speed pursuit through downtown Wichita on a busy Sunday afternoon. The chased vehicle was driving at highway speeds of up to 75 mph through downtown Wichita. Predictably, the chase ended up with a horrible collision that killed Jenny Wood’s mother and niece and left Jenny with severe disabilities.”

According to the lawsuit, Jenny Wood’s injuries included brain trauma and bleeding, a skull fracture, seven broken ribs, multiple pelvic fractures and a broken collarbone.

Last month, the city agreed to a $500,000 setlement in the case. Jenny Wood received $400,000 in damages and the estates of Maria Wood and Rosemary McElroy each received $50,000.

In a phone interview Wednesday evening, Jenny Wood said she still blames Wichita police for escalating the situation and engaging in a dangerous car chase through downtown Wichita.

“It has been heartbreaking to see Mia Collins — I honestly feel for her in that she is being painted as the villain when in reality, Officer Gilmore is the reason why what happened happened,” Wood said.

Collins will now be subject to a pre-sentencing investigation.

The mandatory minimum sentence for first-degree felony murder is life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. As part of the plea agreement, the state will recommend that Collins serve the two murder sentences concurrently.

This story was originally published October 20, 2021 at 1:23 PM.