By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo Police Department announced that a man was taken into custody in relation to a traffic accident resulting in a death of a 10-year-old girl that occurred in November 2024.

John David Winton, a 45-year-old resident of Montevallo, was arrested by Montevallo police and booked into the Shelby County Jail on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Winton is charged with manslaughter in connection with a pedestrian-involved traffic accident that resulted in the death of 10-year-old Ember Poe. The accident occurred on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024 on the 300 block of Spring Creek Road.

The Montevallo Elementary School student was hit while riding her scooter on Spring Creek Road and died more than seven days after the accident due to the injuries sustained from the incident.

The incident occurred between Orr Park and Shoal Creek around 5 p.m. that evening, as Montevallo Police and Fire departments responded to the pedestrian traffic accident.

The Montevallo Police Department’s Investigation Division quickly requested assistance from the Shelby County Traffic Homicide Task Force, who helped with the investigation, ultimately leading to the arrest warrant served by MPD.

The driver of the car did stop at the scene, but court records show that Winton was arrested on Nov. 8 after warrants were issued on Nov. 7 for allegedly being in possession of cocaine, a black digital scale and a smoking pipe with burnt residue on it.

He was held on bonds totaling $6,000 and quickly posted bond.

Ember Poe’s mother, Kelly Lane, posted in a community group at one point sharing details that Winton was the maintenance man at the apartment where the family lived, sharing details about what she witnessed, including the alleged drugs that he had on him and that he was visibly intoxicated.

After bonding out, he returned to work at the apartment with Lane saying in her post that she was the one told to move as he needed to continue to work.

She did say that the Montevallo Police Department was great at working with her during the investigation, as it took more than two months to play out as they waited on lab testing.

Since the incident occurred, many people across Montevallo have come together in support of the family with prayers and a helping hand.

A GoFundMe page was quickly set up and has garnered 311 donations totaling $17,376 to help go toward medical costs, supporting the family during a difficult time and any other costs that may arise from a difficult situation.

You can donate by visiting Gofundme.com/f/help-ember-poes-family-with-expenses Many family friends have continually posted about how loved Ember was by her family and friends.

The family continues to ask for respect and as much privacy as possible during a difficult time, while friends continue to find ways to help and ask that you take the time to pray.

Read more at: https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2024/11/14/prayers-support-surround-family-of-montevallo-10-year-old-after-passing-away/

Winton is being held ini the Shelby County Jail on a bond of $30,000. Manslaughter is a Class B Felony in Alabama that holds a sentence of 2-20 years in prison. No further information pertaining to the incident is available at this time.