The child’s mother shared a brief message of grief as investigators review toxicology tests and crash evidence.
SLIDELL, La. — A 5-year-old boy was struck and killed in his family’s driveway around 7 a.m. Tuesday when a sport-utility vehicle driven by his grandmother pulled forward as he waited for a school bus, according to police. Officers arrested the driver, 55-year-old Kristen Anders, on a count of vehicular homicide after noting signs of impairment.
Investigators said the boy, identified by the coroner as Carson Lawson, died at the scene despite rapid EMS response. Police said a certified drug recognition expert evaluated Anders and reported indicators consistent with alcohol and sedative use. Officers towed the SUV, a full-size model with a high front end, and documented tire marks and the vehicle’s final position. The Slidell Police Department said the grandmother stopped immediately and remained at the scene as neighbors gathered along the cul-de-sac. The child’s mother later posted a short message online describing the loss as “most traumatic and devastating,” adding photos and memories of her son.
Slidell Police Chief Daniel Seuzeneau said he spoke with the mother several times during the day and called the case “any parent’s worst nightmare.” He said officers were dispatched just after sunrise and found the child near the front of the SUV. Detectives interviewed relatives and canvassed nearby homes for security video. The St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed the child’s identity and initiated standard toxicology testing, while police collected a preliminary timeline from 911 calls and officer body-camera video. No other children were hurt, authorities said.
Anders was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on a vehicular homicide count and initially held on $50,000 bail. Police said formal charging decisions will be made by parish prosecutors after lab results and crash-reconstruction reports are complete. Officials have not specified which depressant medications may be relevant to the impairment allegation. Records show the SUV had been backed into the driveway before the grandmother started forward to leave for work. Detectives are examining sight lines, hood height and the driveway slope as part of the reconstruction.
Neighbors described a routine morning scene that quickly turned into chaos. One resident said they heard a shout and then saw officers stringing tape around the driveway. A small cluster of stuffed animals appeared by afternoon near the mailbox. Friends described Carson as energetic and talkative, often waving to the bus. Officers from the department’s victim services unit assisted the family while investigators photographed the scene. The police chief said first responders were debriefed after the call because of the case’s emotional toll.
Slidell sits along major commuter routes on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, where early bus pickups often happen in dim morning light. Police said they will review whether ambient light, vehicle design and the angle of the driveway contributed to visibility issues, along with any impairment findings. The department expects to provide a brief media update next week. Until then, detectives are awaiting coroner and state crime-lab reports. The case file will be delivered to prosecutors for charging review once testing is complete.
Officials say the investigation remains open. Prosecutors are expected to receive an initial packet in the coming days, with a public update anticipated after toxicology results are returned and the crash reconstruction is finalized.
Author note: Last updated November 16, 2025.