ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 5, 1996 TAG: 9609050075
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK
The mother of a 2-month-old infant killed in an automobile accident in Patrick County has been charged with felony child neglect for failing to use a child safety seat.
Donna B. Kessinger, 21, was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury in Patrick County Circuit Court. It's believed to be the first time in Virginia that a parent has been charged with neglect for failing to use a child safety seat.
"I'm not poised to make new law here in Patrick County, but we were confronted with a new situation, and we had to figure out what it means," Commonwealth's Attorney Christopher Corbett said.
Failure to use a safety seat is a traffic offense in Virginia. But Corbett obtained the more serious felony charge against Kessinger.
The accident occurred the night of Aug. 22. Police said earlier that Kessinger was holding her daughter, Savannah Lynn Bowman, in her lap as she rode in a car being driven by Jonathan L. Hylton, her sister's estranged husband.
Savannah was thrown from the car after it ran a stop sign at Virginia 625 and Virginia 680 and struck a car that had the right of way, police said. The infant was flown to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she died the following day.
Hylton, who told police he was unable to stop at the intersection after his brakes failed, also was indicted by the grand jury on a charge of involuntary manslaughter.
State Trooper T.J. Meade, who investigated the accident, said alcohol was not involved. The manslaughter charge was based on the speed the car was traveling - estimated at about 55 mph at the point of contact - and other factors, Meade said.
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB