Trial beginning for driver that killed the FM fans

Livia · #1 05-18-2005, 09:13 PM

Sad news, but I'm hoping the system works...

http://www.journalnow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSJ%2FMGArticle%2FWSJ_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782784236&path=!localnews&s=1037645509099

Trial starts for man in fatal I-40 wreck
Police say that alcohol seems to have been an influence in accident

GREENSBORO

A man involved in a 2003 wreck on Interstate 40 that left three Davie County sisters dead appeared to have been under the influence of alcohol, witnesses testified during the first day of testimony in the man's trial yesterday.

Jeffrey Niles McFayden is charged with driving while impaired and three counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of Tara Howell Parker, 29; Mysti Howell Poplin, 24; and their half sister, Megan Elizabeth Howell, 16. Parker was married to Shawn Parker, who was a NASCAR crew chief.

A jury is hearing the case in Guilford Superior Court

E.K. Wrenn, a Greensboro police officer, testified that after he was called to the scene, "there was an odor of alcohol," on McFayden.

Assistant District Attorney Howard Neumann asked Wrenn if McFayden said anything after the wreck. Wrenn said that McFayden told him that his truck was in bad shape.

"I told him that he messed up his life and he killed someone," Townsend said. "He kept talking about his truck."

Neumann called nine witnesses who mainly described what they saw and heard the night of the wreck

The collision happened about 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 as the sisters were traveling home from Greensboro after a Fleetwood Mac concert in a rented limousine. The limousine was stopped in traffic and was hit from behind by a pickup driven by McFayden. The limousine traveled 69 feet from the point of impact, according to testimony.

A truck driver who was nearby when the wreck occurred testified that the pickup passed him traveling at nearly 80 mph.

In a sworn affidavit, a truck driver named Michael Jordan testified that McFayden was "stepping on it" when he passed him. Jordan then said he heard a "boom" and saw flames about 15 feet high.

Anthony Townsend, a FedEx truck driver, said that he also heard a boom. He then got a fire extinguisher from his truck and ran to the limousine, but he couldn't put out the fire, he said.

McFayden, who was brought into the courtroom in handcuffs, kept his head turned away from the victims' family. He would occasionally turn to talk with his attorney, Krispen Culbertson.

Neumann said he would call at least 10 additional witnesses today to finish the state's presentation.

• Titan Barksdale can be reached at 727-7377 or at [email protected]

WelshWitchPMD · #2 05-18-2005, 09:18 PM

Sadly he walked away. I hope that he never sees the light of day or his truck!

GardenStateGirlie · #3 05-18-2005, 09:19 PM

I still remember Meredith calling me because she had been sitting in traffic and saw smoke but didn't know what was going on. Very sad. Hopefully justice will be served.

dissention · #4 05-18-2005, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

"I told him that he messed up his life and he killed someone," Townsend said. "He kept talking about his truck."

How disturbing. Gave me the willies.

I hope they throw the book at him.

GateandGarden · #5 05-18-2005, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

"I told him that he messed up his life and he killed someone," Townsend said. "He kept talking about his truck."

That's just awful and unbelievable.

GODDESS6 · #6 05-19-2005, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WelshWitchPMD

Sadly he walked away. I hope that he never sees the light of day or his truck!

amen sister!~

lagringader&r · #7 05-19-2005, 05:08 PM

Wow that is so sad.

My heart goes out to the family.

Livia · #8 05-21-2005, 12:51 PM

Guilty! Daniel posted on chit-chat:

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?t=19472

Hawkeye · #9 05-21-2005, 01:02 PM

im sure the deciding factor for the Jury was the Fleetwood Mac factor. Without the fact they were mac fans this guy would've walked

Livia · #10 05-21-2005, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux

Not really. Involuntary manslaughter would indicate that he was found to be not entirely at fault. Anyhoo....

Huh? I think it's a matter of involuntary vs. voluntary - he didn't purposely ram his car into theirs "voluntarily," with the intent to kill. Tragic as it was, he didn't do it on purpose. People who kill others in car accidents are never indicted as "murderers."

strandinthewind · #11 05-21-2005, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Livia

Huh? I think it's a matter of involuntary vs. voluntary - he didn't purposely ram his car into theirs "voluntarily," with the intent to kill. Tragic as it was, he didn't do it on purpose. People who kill others in car accidents are never indicted as "murderers."

If alcohol is involved, some states will presume intent from the choice to drive under the influence and then bump it up from manslaughter, but it is, I think, a rare occurence.

Merf · #12 05-21-2005, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkeye

im sure the deciding factor for the Jury was the Fleetwood Mac factor. Without the fact they were mac fans this guy would've walked

Great time to joke.

I drove through a thick cloud of smoke on I-85 that night, obstructing my view of the road. Only later when I got home from Greensboro did I find out what happened. I will never forget that. It makes me sad that the families have waited 18 months for this resolution. Hopefully now they will have some closure.