Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 10, 1993 TAG: 9308100563
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
The grand jury will decide whether to indict Peggy Jean Bishop, 30, of the 1600 block of Gallimore Street.
Bishop is charged in connection with the May 30 death of Myrna J. Clendenin, 43, of Plum Creek. Clendenin was found dead alongside U.S. 11 near her home shortly after 5 a.m.
Motorists reported seeing a body on the side of the road about 5:30 a.m. Clendenin apparently was walking east toward Christiansburg when she was struck.
Bishop's attorney, Max Jenkins of Radford, has said that Bishop realized she had hit something, stopped her car several yards away but was unable to see anything in the early morning fog. Deputy Mario Morgan testified Monday that the weather was clear and he didn't recall any fog.
A medical examiner's report introduced into evidence during Monday's hearing indicates that Clendenin had a .16 blood-alcohol content.
Bishop said she had not been drinking, Jenkins said. Montgomery County General District Court records indicate that Bishop was convicted of driving under the influence in April 1989.
A Radford University police officer told Montgomery County authorities that he had seen a woman walking in the road a few minutes before she was hit by Bishop. In a written statement given to Morgan, Michael Lee said that the woman was walking on the black-top road and that he had had to swerve into a turn lane to avoid hitting her.
Jenkins said Bishop thought that she had hit an animal or that something had struck her car at about 5 a.m. as she drove down U.S. 11 between Radford and Christiansburg.
Bishop had spent the night with a friend and was returning home when Clendenin was struck, Jenkins said.
After she got home, Bishop sent her husband back to U.S. 11 to see what she had struck. After he told her there was a dead woman on the roadside and that police were there, a friend called Jenkins for Bishop.
Jenkins in turn notified authorities that he was representing someone who might have information about the incident.
Authorities were given permission to search the car that Bishop was driving, but she did not give a statement until June 2.
Lt. O.P. Ramsey, the evidence technician for the Sheriff's Office, testified that a damaged parking-light casing matched with evidence that he had found near Clendenin's body. The car's windshield also was broken and he found a button from Clendenin's clothing in the car.
Clendenin's body was more than 117 feet from where she was struck, Ramsey said.
Judge T.D. Frith Jr. called the incident very unfortunate. He said deciding to certify the charge to the grand jury was a close call, but said the law requires people to stop and give immediate aid when involved in an accident.
by CNB