Virginia man charged in crash that killed two little girls: 'Something no one should have to see'

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- A Chesterfield driver was charged with DUI manslaughter four months after a crash that killed two children.

Zyan Stevens, 22, was driving near the intersection of Old Wrexham Road and Old Wrexham Place on March 1, 2024 at around 1:54 a.m., when police said he drove off the road and hit a tree.

Ava Turner, 5, and Ivey Birch, 9, were in the car and pronounced dead at the scene. Stevens was taken to the hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

"A scene like this is something that no one should have to see, to be honest," Chesterfield Crash Team Supervisor Sgt. Kyle Easton said.

Stevens, who knew the children but was not related to them, was charged with two counts each of involuntary manslaughter, DUI manslaughter, and child neglect.

Stevens, according to court documents, was friends with the girls' mother and was looking after while she worked. At the time of the crash, Stevens was on his way to pick her up.

As Stevens drove up Wrexham, towards Centralia, police said his car drifted to the left, went onto a lawn, and crashed into trees.

Neither sister was properly restrained in the car, according to police.

"With most of our fatal crashes across the country, they either involve speed, lack of seatbelts, or intoxication and this crash happened to have all three," Easton said.

Watch: New information released into crash that killed 2 children

Court records indicated Stevens was convicted of a reckless driving, driving without a license charge, and a gun charge in February 2024 and sentenced to nine months. All that jail time was suspended. Stevens was already in custody on other charges when he was indicted for the March crash. He will be arraigned on these charges in August.

"I just encourage people to obey speed limits, to use restraint devices for themselves and the people they care about and to designate a driver and not drive under the influence," Easton said.

Anyone with more information about the crash is asked to call Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660.

This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.