Accident Reconstruction Network > News > September 2005 > 09/06/05

Accident Reconstruction News Article

DWI crash kills woman. Husband, 50, was driving, charged with manslaughter
By Jake Palmateer

An Andes man was charged Sunday with vehicular manslaughter after a crash that killed his wife earlier in the weekend.

Sidney troopers said Danny L. Reed, 50, was driving a 1986 Chevrolet S-10 west on state Route 28 at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday in the town of Andes when he lost control near the intersection of Finkle Road.

Troopers said Reed’s pickup struck a guardrail on the north side of the highway and then slid off the south shoulder and overturned.

Reed’s wife of six years, Kathie J. Reed, 52, was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene from her injuries, troopers said.

There were no other passengers in the pickup, troopers said.

Danny Reed was taken to Margaretville Memorial Hospital by an Andes emergency squad and treated and released for minor injuries.

State police Senior Investigator Robert A. Fernandez said Monday night that Reed was charged Sunday with driving while intoxicated and second-degree vehicular manslaughter.

Fernandez said intoxication is a prerequisite for a charge of second-degree vehicular manslaughter, a class D felony punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Troopers said Reed was arraigned Sunday in front of Andes Town Justice Joseph Grieco and sent to the Delaware County jail on $2,500 bail.

Jail officials said Reed was bailed out later Sunday.

Fernandez said autopsy results for Kathie Reed were not yet available and he did not know the exact nature of her injuries.

The crash happened about five miles from the couple’s Coss Road residence near a sharp curve on state Route 28.

Fernandez said he did not know where the couple was coming from or where they were going.

Kathie Reed worked at Little Pond State Park, Wilson State Park and, during the winter, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, according to her obituary.

Troopers said additional charges may be lodged against Reed after a grand jury investigation.

The Troop C Collision Reconstruction Unit assisted at the accident scene, troopers said.

Information regarding the use of seat belts during the crash was not available from Troop C headquarters in Sidney on Monday.

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