Not-Guilty Plea in Homecoming Tragedy

STILLWATER, Okla. (CN) - The driver accused of killing four people in last year's Oklahoma State University homecoming parade pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Wednesday.

Adacia Chambers, 25, pleaded not guilty to four counts of second-degree murder and 42 counts of assault and battery by means of force likely to produce death.

Prosecutors in Payne County Court say a gray Hyundai Elantra struck a police motorcycle at the Oct. 24 morning parade, then plowed into a crowd near a crosswalk.

Killed at the scene were Marvin Lyle Stone, 65, Bonnie Jean Stone, 65, and Nikita Nakal, 23. Nash Lucas, 2, died later.

Chambers "admitted to having a history of suicidal attempts" when she was booked, and said "she was suicidal at the time of the incident but not at the time of booking," according to an affidavit.

District Attorney Laura Austin Thomas said she expects more than 100 witnesses to be called and she expects the trial to last one month.

She indicated the prosecution will be ready for trial this year, but asked Payne County Judge Stephen Kistler to not hold it during the anniversary of the deaths.

Defense attorney Tony Coleman, of Oklahoma City, said discovery has not been completed, so he does not know when the defense will be ready for trial. Coleman has declined to say whether he would pursue an insanity defense.

"We are just going to let things develop as they are going," Coleman said in December. "We will wait until we get all of the discovery in our hands and go from there."

The first judge assigned the case recused herself in November after learning she is friends with one of the victims.

One month later, Chambers was found competent to stand trial based on a competency report filed by the Oklahoma State Forensic Center.

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