ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 17, 1995 TAG: 9512180093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITER
Ebby Clark remembers his reaction when he looked in his rearview mirror and saw a car closing in on him at high speed.
"I put my foot down hard on the gas pedal, hoping to get out of the way," the Barren Springs resident said.
Clark couldn't get out of the way fast enough, though, and the other car struck his vehicle Saturday afternoon as both started to cross the New River bridge on Virginia 100 in Wythe County.
After the impact, Clark said he had a hard time controlling his car, but after he did, he took another look in his mirror.
He watched the other vehicle lose control and crash into the bridge. The impact sliced the car in two, ejecting a back-seat passenger. That man, 29-year-old Jason Rorrer of Draper, was killed.
Clark and his wife were treated at Wythe County Community Hospital for minor injuries and released, according to state police. The driver of the other car also was taken to the Wythe hospital, where he was treated for minor cuts.
Trooper L.F. Valley said Leonard Paul Adams, 40, also of Draper, was charged with involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence, reckless driving and not wearing a seat belt. Valley said Adams would be held at Wythe County Jail on $10,000 bond.
Another man in Adams' car, Oakley Friend, 44, also of Draper, was taken to Pulaski Community Hospital with minor injuries. The bridge was closed for two hours after the 3:45 p.m. crash, police said.
Staff photographer Gene Dalton contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB