Jury selection begins in Tamika Pledger manslaughter case

The trial for a Kansas City, Kan., woman charged with manslaughter in the traffic death of a teenage pedestrian starts this week.

On Monday, jury selection began in the trial of Tamika Pledger, who is charged in the death of 16-year-old Tierra Smith and injuries caused to three other teens whom Pledger reportedly struck with her car in January 2015.

Pledger, a longtime community activist and former county commission candidate, has pleaded not guilty.

According to previous court testimony:

A group of teens were fighting in the street as others watched or tried to break up the fight. One of the teens — a girl Pledger had let live in her home — called Pledger for help, and Pledger said she rushed to the scene.

Police say her car was traveling at least 55 mph in a 20 mph zone when it went over a hill and struck the teens in the 1300 block of Troup Avenue.

Smith died a week after the crash.