A 21-year-old Hayden man is charged in the death of his girlfriend who was killed when police say he recklessly tried to beat a train and failed.

LaDonald Dewayne Phillips Jr. went before a Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff judge Tuesday to face a charge of manslaughter in last year’s traffic crash death of 21-year-old Claudia Mae Dreffs.

Phillips was arrested last week on the felony charge.

At the time of his arrest, he was already awaiting trial on a charge that he was driving recklessly and endangered Dreffs the year before her 2024 death.

The fatal crash happened at 1:17 p.m. on Oct. 30, at 32nd Street and Carolina Avenue in Bessemer.

Phillips was the driver of a Chevrolet Suburban that Wednesday afternoon, traveling westbound on 32nd and tried to pass as the crossing arms were down and lights flashing.

The Amtrak train was traveling south from Birmingham to New Orleans.

Charging documents against Phillips allege he caused Dreffs’ death “in a reckless and wanton manner with disregard for human life.”

Another vehicle was stopped at the railroad crossing, documents state, and Phillips drove around that vehicle to try to beat the train and was struck.

Dreffs and Phillips were both ejected from the SUV.

Dreffs was pronounced dead at 1:22 p.m., about 50 yards from the crossing.

Phillips was taken to UAB Hospital with critical injuries.

At the time of the crash, Phillips was already facing a charge of domestic violence-reckless endangerment of Dreffs.

According to court records, Phillips on Thanksgiving Day 2023 was speeding and driving recklessly without his lights on when he crashed through a locked chain link gate, creating the risk of serious injury.

Bessemer Cutoff Assistant District Attorney Lori Frasure asked that his bond be revoked in that case, which a judge ordered in June.

At the time of his arrest on the manslaughter charge, Phillips was in the Blount County Jail on charges of domestic violence, DUI, and driving while his license was revoked.

He pleaded guilty last week to a Blount County charge of domestic violence-harassment of his new girlfriend after he threatened to harm her and dragged her through the house and took her phone while she was trying to leave.

Phillips is set to return to court before Judge David Carpenter on July 24 for a preliminary hearing and a bond hearing.

He remains held in the Jefferson County Jail.