Privileged Columbia protester in dual fatal crash avoids jail as victim's family calls for murder charges

COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON DC: Isabel Jennifer Seward, a 20-year-old protester recently arrested at a Columbia University anti-Israel demonstration, finds herself at the center of a renewed controversy. But this time, it's not solely for her activism. Seward's name resurfaced in connection with a tragic incident from 2020 when, as a teenager, she was involved in a fatal crash that killed Chet and Connie Hawkins, an elderly couple from Vermont.

Eve Taylor, the niece of the deceased, voiced her frustration, asserting that Seward's affluent background shielded her from facing the appropriate consequences. "The only reason she wasn’t charged with murder is because she has a rich daddy," Taylor lamented. "She should be behind bars."

Isabel Seward killed elderly couple in car crash

Seward's privileged upbringing, highlighted by her affluent family and prestigious education, contrasts starkly with the lack of accountability she has faced for her role in the fatal collision. During the time of the crash, law enforcement informed local media that Seward provided conflicting accounts regarding the events leading up to the collision, including whether she had been using her phone.

Police documentation and photographs from the crash site reveal that Seward's pickup truck veered across the double line on US Route 7 in Charlotte, Vermont, causing a direct collision with Chet and Connie.

"Her truck went up over the hood of their car, and crushed my aunt and uncle," Taylor recounted. Connie, 72, succumbed to her injuries instantaneously, as reported by local media. Chet, 73, endured severe injuries for hours as emergency responders struggled to extricate him from the wreckage. He died five hours later at a nearby medical facility.

"Chet and Connie’s family are all incensed," Taylor expressed. Taylor disclosed that she contacted the Vermont State Police on Saturday morning to inquire about the possibility of reopening the investigation into the fatal crash. "I want her charged with murder," Taylor emphasized.

Victims' family say Isabel Seward has 'no remorse'

Despite evidence suggesting her involvement in the crash, Seward was not charged with any crime related to the incident. Instead, she received a civil traffic ticket and a $220 fine, which her family promptly settled, according to the Rutland Herald.

The aftermath of the crash saw tensions flare between law enforcement and the prosecutor's office, with discrepancies arising over the public disclosure of Seward's identity. Yet, the lack of legal repercussions for Seward only serves to deepen the anguish of the Hawkins family, reigniting their demand for justice.

Taylor's impassioned plea for accountability reverberates as she calls for a reexamination of the case, advocating for murder charges against Seward. "She has no remorse, she received no punishment," Taylor asserted. "She’s just prancing around Columbia with her Ivy League privilege. After basically getting away with murder, she’s now promoting murder, with no understanding of what she’s promoting. It’s outrageous they haven’t thrown her off campus.”