THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, June 19, 1996 TAG: 9606190382
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: 34 lines
The driver of a car involved in a fatal accident last week was charged with involuntary manslaughter Tuesday, six days after the crash killed the driver's 15-year-old passenger.
Police spokesman Mike Carey said Kellam High School student Joseph Vautrin of the 1900 block of Nettle St., died after 20-year-old Robert C. Wilson sped through a stop sign and caused a crash at the intersection of Culver Lane and Upton Drive in the Ocean Lakes area on June 9.
Carey said Wilson, of the 9500 block of Bainbridge Ave. in Norfolk, was driving recklessly when the accident happened, and that's why he is being charged with involuntary manslaughter.
Wilson's car was struck broadside by a 1971 Buick. Vautrin, an avid surfer who, according to police, met Wilson just a day or two before the accident, suffered severe head injuries and died Saturday at Virginia Beach General Hospital.
Police arrested Wilson without incident at 8 p.m. Tuesday. He was being held in jail on a $7,500 bond.
Officer Terry McLaughlin, assigned to investigate the crash, said there may have been some witnesses who saw the accident but left before police arrived. McLaughlin is looking for those witnesses.
Anyone who saw the crash is asked to call McLaughlin at 427-4606. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Joseph Vautrin
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITY ARREST
MANSLAUGHTER by CNB