Broadway Woman Charged With Manslaughter In Deadly Crash

Police Say Suspect Struck Mo-Ped Driver From Behind


Posted: January 7, 2012

By PETE DeLEA


HARRISONBURG — Virginia State Police say a Broadway woman was drunk late Friday night when she crashed into a mo-ped on Va. 42 near Linville, killing the driver.

Laura Kaitlin Rellins, 20, of Broadway, is charged with felony involuntary manslaughter and misdemeanor driving under the influence.

“She came up behind the mo-ped and struck it,” said Sgt. F.L. Tyler, a spokesman for the state police.

Police say Ricky Dean Parker, 39, of Cana, was driving a 2009 GMI mo-ped in the right northbound lane of Va. 42, near Klines Mill Road, shortly before 11 p.m. Rellins, driving a 2002 Honda sedan, also was traveling northbound when she approached the mo-ped from behind and crashed into it, according to police.

Parker, a Carroll County resident, died at the scene.

Rellins was taken to Rockingham County Jail, where she’s being held without bond. She’s scheduled to make her first court appearance Monday in Rockingham County General District Court.

Friday’s fatality was the third deadly crash on Va. 42 in that area of Rockingham County in the last month.

On Dec. 21, a 28-year-old Hinton man died when he pulled out onto Va. 42 from Green Hill Road near Edom in front of a southbound vehicle.

On Dec. 16, a 75-year-old Bergton woman died after her vehicle ran off the road a half-mile south of Klines Mill Road.

Contact Pete DeLea at 574-6278 or pdelea@dnronline.com
5 Comments
5.  RE: Broadway Woman Charged With Manslaughter In Deadly Crash
January 8, 2012 @ 11:41pm
The driver, at 20 yrs of age, isn't a Broadway HS student at this point! Regardless of where she went to HS, the decision to drink and then get behind the wheel has cost a life and her own will never the be the same either. We never know whether the person we meet on the highway is under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, half asleep or on a cell phone. The percentage is probably very high that one of them applies. Mopeds/scooters are very dangerous on the highway as well, but I think there's enough shoulder on 42 for them to ride out of traffic. I pass bicycles on 42 daily going to & from work and they're usually not in the traffic lanes. It's a tragedy for both families and send prayers their way. 
4.  RE: Broadway Woman Charged With Manslaughter In Deadly Crash
January 8, 2012 @ 11:01pm
Yellow Diamonds....could you be more ignorant?? This didn't happen because she attended Broadway High School! Prayers to both families!
3.  RE: Broadway Woman Charged With Manslaughter In Deadly Crash
January 8, 2012 @ 9:07pm
How heartbreaking. My sympathies to Mr. Parker's family and to the families of the other people lost in accidents this month.
2.  RE: Broadway Woman Charged With Manslaughter In Deadly Crash
January 8, 2012 @ 8:48pm
This wouldn't be the first time someone from Broadway HS has killed someone else in a car crash...  I hope she gets sentenced to the full-term.  Someone needs to be an example to all the other rowdy local students that both underage drinking and driving under the influence will NOT be tolerated.  There is no reason for tradegies like this to occur.  This is a hard way to grow up fast, but I think it will serve her well to sit some time behind bars.  
1.  RE: Broadway Woman Charged With Manslaughter In Deadly Crash
January 8, 2012 @ 2:54pm

Driving, Drunk, and Underage:  Some lawyer will make a Years Salary trying to get her out of this one!

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