THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, October 24, 1995 TAG: 9510240291
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
A man originally charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with a traffic fatality last year on Interstate 264 was sentenced Monday to serve two months in jail.
Joseph M. DaSilva of Virginia Beach also was fined $2,500, had his driver's license suspended for a year and was ordered to perform 800 hours of community service.
He was charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving under the influence after the death on Aug. 25, 1994, of Paul Chereskin, 30.
DaSilva pleaded guilty to the DUI charge on Aug. 16 of this year. The manslaughter charge was dropped as part of that plea agreement.
Chereskin was killed when he was struck by a car as he tried to help DaSilva, whose vehicle had stalled in a westbound driving lane of I-264.
Chereskin was headed home in his 1987 Ford pickup truck in the early morning when he noticed DaSilva's 1982 Chrysler LeBaron in a traffic lane near the Campostella exit.
DaSilva was slumped over the steering wheel, police said.
Chereskin stopped his truck on the shoulder and tried to rouse DaSilva when a third car hit the Chrysler.
Chereskin was declared dead at the scene, police said. DaSilva was taken to a hospital and released.
The man in the third car was not injured and was not charged.
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC SENTENCING DUI FATALITY by CNB