Kata Hay Vehicular Homicide Warrant: What It Means If You Face a Similar Charge in Oklahoma

Recent reports from TMZ and other outlets say former The Voice contestant and Oklahoma native Kata Hay was arrested in Osage County on a Tennessee warrant for vehicular homicide tied to a deadly crash near Nashville. According to those reports, she’s accused of leaving the scene of the crash, driving with an open container, and has a separate second DUI case pending in Tennessee. In Oklahoma, she’s currently listed as a fugitive from justice while Tennessee works to bring her back. If you read a story like this and worry about your own situation, you’re not alone.

Accused of a Fatal Crash Crime in Oklahoma?

If you’ve been accused of vehicular homicide, negligent homicide, DUI manslaughter, or a related fatal crash crime in Oklahoma, reach out for a free consultation at 405-633-3420 or fill out our secure form on the Urbanic Law Firm contact page. Early help can protect your rights before evidence or deadlines get away from you.

What the News Reports Say About the Kata Hay Arrest

News outlets report that police in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, asked the public for help after a December 10 crash in Davidson County that allegedly killed someone. They say officers believed Hay was heading toward Oklahoma and put out a “be on the lookout” notice. Shortly after, an Osage County deputy arrested her in Oklahoma on the Tennessee vehicular homicide warrant. Here in Oklahoma, the jail lists her as a fugitive from justice and notes that she’ll go before a local judge for extradition proceedings. None of that is a conviction, and she’s legally presumed innocent.

For you, the important question is this. If a similar crash happened in Oklahoma, what crimes could prosecutors file, and how would those charges work? Because Oklahoma doesn’t have a crime literally named “vehicular homicide,” understanding our homicide and traffic-death statutes becomes critical.

Oklahoma Crimes That Could Mirror a Vehicular Homicide Allegation

Oklahoma uses a mix of homicide and traffic statutes to handle fatal crash cases. Depending on the facts, you could face anything from a misdemeanor to a serious felony. Prosecutors choose among several options, and the label they pick shapes potential punishment and defense strategy.

Negligent Homicide

Oklahoma’s closest stand-in for “vehicular homicide” is negligent homicide under 47 O.S. § 11-903. In plain terms, the State has to prove that you drove a vehicle in reckless disregard for the safety of others on a highway and that this reckless driving caused someone’s death. OUJI-CR 4-105 breaks that into elements that a jury must find beyond a reasonable doubt. “Reckless disregard” is more than a simple mistake. It’s conduct showing you ignored a serious risk that your driving could hurt someone.

Manslaughter in the First Degree

Prosecutors sometimes treat a fatal crash as manslaughter in the first degree under 21 O.S. § 711(1). That section covers deaths that happen during the commission of a misdemeanor. OUJI-CR 4-94 explains that the State must tie the death directly to an underlying misdemeanor, such as DUI, driving while license is revoked, or another traffic crime. Because of that, a fatal DUI crash in Oklahoma can get filed as first-degree manslaughter rather than negligent homicide if prosecutors use the misdemeanor-manslaughter rule.

Manslaughter in the Second Degree

Second-degree manslaughter under 21 O.S. § 716 is a Class B5 felony that covers unlawful killings caused by “culpable negligence” when the case doesn’t fit murder or first-degree manslaughter. Oklahoma appellate decisions note that, for car crashes, 47 O.S. § 11-903 generally controls instead of this section. However, second-degree manslaughter can still come into play in unusual vehicle cases or when the conduct doesn’t fall neatly under the traffic codes.

DUI, Injury Accidents, and Leaving the Scene

In a scenario like the one described in the TMZ coverage, you also see additional traffic and DUI-related allegations. In Oklahoma, those counterparts would likely include:

• Driving Under the Influence – 47 O.S. § 11-902 (impaired driving based on alcohol, drugs, or both).
• DUI Injury and Great Bodily Injury – 47 O.S. § 11-904 (DUI causing an injury accident or great bodily injury, with enhanced felony ranges).
• Leaving the Scene of an Injury Crash – 47 O.S. § 10-102 (failing to remain and give aid when someone is hurt).
• Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Crash – 47 O.S. § 10-102.1 (stricter penalties when the crash involves death).
• Leaving the Scene of Property-Damage-Only Crash – 47 O.S. § 10-104 (similar to what’s reported about property damage over $1,500 in the Hay case).
• Open Container in Vehicle – 21 O.S. § 1220 (transporting an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle on a public road).

In Oklahoma, these charges often stack. So you might see negligent homicide or manslaughter paired with DUI, leaving the scene, and open container counts. Each count carries its own elements, and the State has to prove every one of them.

Comparing the Reported Facts to How Oklahoma Would Charge the Case

Remember, the Hay case arises out of Tennessee law, and their “vehicular homicide” statute isn’t identical to ours. Still, comparing the reported facts to Oklahoma law helps you see how prosecutors here might approach a similar crash. It also shows where an Oklahoma defense lawyer can push back.

Vehicular Homicide vs. Oklahoma Negligent Homicide

Tennessee’s vehicular homicide statute focuses on death caused by intoxicated or reckless driving. Oklahoma’s negligent homicide law under 47 O.S. § 11-903 is conceptually similar but uses that “reckless disregard” standard. In a case like the one described in the articles, an Oklahoma prosecutor would likely ask whether speeding, lane violations, distraction, or impairment showed that level of recklessness. A defense attorney would dig into crash reconstruction, weather, road design, and the other driver’s behavior to challenge both recklessness and causation.

Leaving the Scene and Property Damage Allegations

The TMZ-based coverage mentions leaving the scene of an accident with more than $1,500 in property damage. Oklahoma divides that duty to stop into separate statutes for property-only crashes, injury crashes, and fatal crashes. If a death is involved here, our 47 O.S. §§ 10-102 and 10-102.1 become critical. The State would have to show you knew or reasonably should’ve known there was a crash and still chose to leave without giving information or aid. Your lawyer can use timing, visibility, and witness statements to argue that you didn’t realize the severity or even that a collision occurred.

DUI, Open Container, and Prior Record

Reports also talk about Hay having a pending second DUI case and an open container allegation. In Oklahoma, a second DUI under 47 O.S. § 11-902 brings steeper punishment and can bump you into felony territory when combined with injury or death. Open container adds another count and gives the State a visual piece of evidence that they’ll try to spin as proof you’d been drinking. Prior DUIs and other convictions can also trigger Oklahoma’s general felony enhancement rules in 21 O.S. § 51.1, which is one more reason you want someone watching the charging language closely.

How the Fugitive Warrant and Extradition Piece Works

In the Hay situation, Oklahoma isn’t prosecuting the vehicular homicide. Instead, our role is to hold her on the Tennessee warrant as a “fugitive from justice.” Under Oklahoma’s extradition laws, you go before a district court judge who confirms your identity and reviews the paperwork from the demanding state. You can sometimes fight extradition on narrow grounds, like identity or obvious defects, but the court usually won’t re-litigate the out-of-state probable cause. Many people choose to waive extradition and get transported faster so they can start dealing with the actual case.

If the crash had happened here instead, your case would move through the Oklahoma district court system in the county where the crash occurred. You’d likely first see a judge for arraignment and bond. Then you’d face a preliminary hearing in felony cases, where the State must show probable cause that a crime occurred and that you’re the one who committed it. Because fatal crash cases are complex, your lawyer would be looking at blood-draw warrants, bodycam video, black box data, and whether officers followed Oklahoma’s rules for implied consent and chemical testing.

Those hearings all happen in the Oklahoma state courts where serious traffic and homicide cases are prosecuted. Understanding that path helps you plan your next move instead of reacting to every new setting in panic.

Defending Fatal Crash and Vehicular Homicide-Type Cases in Oklahoma

Even when news stories sound terrible, you still have defenses. Oklahoma law doesn’t let prosecutors skip elements just because the case involves a death or a celebrity. Your lawyer’s job is to force the State to prove every element and to show reasonable jurors why the story is more complicated than the headlines.

First, causation is huge. jury instructions on negligent homicide and manslaughter require the State to prove your conduct was the proximate cause of the death, not just that you were nearby. Another driver’s sudden move, a mechanical failure, or poor road design can all break that chain. Second, the State has to show more than ordinary negligence to get to “reckless disregard” or “culpable negligence.” That’s where speed data, phone records, and toxicology results matter. Finally, in leaving-the-scene cases, your knowledge and state of mind at the time of the crash become key battlegrounds. Panic, confusion, and injury can all explain why someone didn’t react the way officers later expected.

Because these cases often overlap with Oklahoma’s homicide statutes, they should be handled with the same intensity as any murder or manslaughter case. If you want a deeper dive into homicide charges more generally, you can review our Oklahoma homicide crimes defense guide for an overview of murder, manslaughter, and related offenses.

Key Oklahoma Legal Terms in Fatal Crash Cases

When you read about a case like Kata Hay’s, you see technical phrases that can feel confusing. These short definitions give you a starting point for understanding how Oklahoma uses those terms.

• Homicide – Any killing of one human being by another. It can be murder, manslaughter, justifiable, or excusable depending on the facts.
• Negligent homicide – A death caused by a driver operating a vehicle on a highway in reckless disregard of the safety of others, under 47 O.S. § 11-903.
• Reckless disregard – Conduct that goes beyond simple carelessness and shows you ignored a serious risk that your driving could hurt someone.
• Proximate cause – A legal cause that directly produces the death in a natural, continuous sequence, without another independent event breaking that chain.
• Fugitive from justice – A person arrested in Oklahoma because another state has a warrant or case pending and wants that person returned.
• Extradition – The process where one state formally requests that another state hold and transport a wanted person back to face charges there.

Frequently Asked Questions About Oklahoma Vehicular Homicide and Fatal DUI Cases

What does a vehicular homicide charge mean in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma doesn’t use the exact term “vehicular homicide,” but similar cases are usually charged as negligent homicide under 47 O.S. § 11-903 or as manslaughter under 21 O.S. §§ 711 or 716. The label depends on how prosecutors view your driving, your level of impairment, and which statutes fit the facts. The potential punishment and defense strategy change a lot based on which Oklahoma statute the State chooses.

Can you face murder charges in Oklahoma for a fatal DUI crash?

In rare Oklahoma cases, prosecutors have charged fatal crashes as second-degree murder when the driving was extremely dangerous and showed a “depraved mind.” More often, fatal DUI crashes get filed as first-degree manslaughter under 21 O.S. § 711(1) or as negligent homicide under 47 O.S. § 11-903. Which path the State takes will depend on your prior record, the level of alleged intoxication, and how outrageous they believe the driving was.

How does leaving the scene of a fatal crash work under Oklahoma law?

Oklahoma law requires you to stop, give information, and offer reasonable aid after a crash, especially when someone is hurt or killed. Under 47 O.S. §§ 10-102 and 10-102.1, leaving the scene of an injury or fatal crash is a separate crime from any DUI or homicide charge. The State must show that you knew or should’ve known there was a serious crash and still chose to leave. Your lawyer can challenge what you reasonably perceived in that moment.

What happens if you’re arrested in Oklahoma on a warrant from another state?

If you’re arrested in Oklahoma on an out-of-state warrant, you’re usually booked as a fugitive from justice while the other state starts extradition. You’ll see an Oklahoma judge, who reviews the warrant and either sets conditions or holds you for the requesting state. You can fight extradition on narrow grounds or waive it and return to handle the underlying charges. That extradition process is separate from any Oklahoma charges you might also face.

What defenses are available in Oklahoma vehicular homicide or negligent homicide cases?

Common defenses in Oklahoma vehicular homicide and negligent homicide cases include challenging who was driving, disputing impairment, and attacking crash reconstruction. You can also contest whether your conduct really reached “reckless disregard” or “culpable negligence” under Oklahoma law. Finally, your lawyer can focus on proximate cause and show that another driver, a sudden emergency, or a mechanical problem actually caused the death.

This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every case is unique; consult an attorney about your specific situation. Page last updated December 22, 2025. Consult the statutes listed above for the most up-to-date law.