WDBJ 7 morning news AM cutins for 05/27/99

[7Fatal-Ax]

[ANCHOR=mel]

[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=dse]
[TAPE#=net]
[GRAPHIC=81 Deadly Ax]

The truck driver involved in yesterday's fatal accident on Interstate 81 told investigators he blew a tire and lost control in the accident, but police say the evidence tells another story.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.]

Investigators focused their attention on the truck's left front tire.
They did find damage but said it was not caused by a blowout, plus there were no skidmarks on the northbound pavement.
By the time driver Richard Wayne West of Pulaski, Tennessee was released from the hospital, police were ready to charge him with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=from what we've]
(( V.C. JONES/VA. STATE POLICE; FROM WHAT WE'VE GLEANED FROM THE INVESTIGATION SO FAR, WE DON'T SEE ANY INDICATION OF ANY MECHANICAL DEFECT AT THIS TIME.))
[SUPER=01-V. C. Jones/State Police;]
[RUNS=:09]
[OUT Q=at this time]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

Yesterday's crash pushes the number of deaths on I-81 this year into the double digits.
At least 10 peope have lost their lives in crashes from Wythe to Rockbridge Counties. . .
Most of the accidents have involved tractor-trailers.
(------------)

[7E-Druckenmiller]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=THa]
[TAPE#=99-12 1:26:21]
[GRAPHIC=Druckenmiller Rape Charge]

Attorneys for former Virginia Tech quarterback Jim Druckenmiller say prosecutors are withholding evidence.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg;]

Druckenmiller, who now plays for the 49-ers, is accused of raping a Tech student at a party in Blacksburg, back in March.
The former Tech quarterback admits he had sex with the girl but says it was consensual.
At a pretrial hearing yesterday, Druckenmiller's attorneys asked the court for access to more of the prosecution's evidence.
They claim prosecutors are withholding certain witness statements that could help prove the young woman was the aggressor that night.
Druckenmiller's attorneys say they've also run into other roadblocks.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=We've been]
((DEBORAH CALDWELL-BONO/DRUCKENMILLER'S ATTORNEY: WE'VE BEEN HINDERED IN OUR EFFORTS TO TALK WITH WITNESSES BY THE WITNESSES TELLING US THAT THE POLICE HAVE TOLD THEM NOT TO TALK WITH US, YEAH THAT'S HINDERING.))
[SUPER=01-Deborah Caldwell-Bono/Druckenmiller's Attorney; :00]
[RUNS=08]
[OUT Q=that's hindered.]
(------------)
[ANCHOR=]
[SS=Hold]

Prosecutors told the judge they've been cooperative in turning over evidence and aren't required to hand over everything.
Judge Ray Grubbs, however, did NOT make a decision.
Instead-- he continued the case after bickering between the two sides continued to escalate.

[7Power-Line]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=jda]
[TAPE#=None]
[GRAPHIC=Proposed Power Line]

The latest proposed route for a high-voltage power line has received a passing grade from the Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club.
(XXXXXXXXXXXX)
[FULL SCREEN PINNACLE BOARD]
In a filing with the State Corporation Commission, the group says the path between Wyoming, West Virginia and Jacksons Ferry in Wythe County would have less of an impact on the Appalachian Trail than other alternatives.
It says the Appalachian Trail Conference and its associated clubs are willing to accept the corridor if American Electric Power takes specific steps to mitigate the power line's impact.
(------------)
[anchor=]
[graphic=Hold]

Appalachian Trail Managers say they still oppose the corridor that would have carried the power line from Wyoming to Cloverdale.

[7E-Fleming]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-17 30:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]

It took a Lynchburg jury just two hours to find a man guilty of capital murder yesterday.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

33-year old Darryl Lamont Fleming was accused of stabbing to death 16- year- old Corey Pennix last August.
Fleming also stole crack cocaine and money from Pennix's socks while he lay bleeding to death.
The jury rejected Fleming's claim of self defense.
The sentencing phase of Fleming's trial starts today.. he could receive the death penalty.
(------------)

[7WEATHER]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=CUTIN]
[WRITER=KMC]
[TAPE#=]
[GRAPHIC]
Taking a look at your Thursday forecast--
During the day it will be sunny and breezy with winds out of the northwest--10 to 20 miles-per-hour.
Temperatures ranging from 72 to 76 degrees.
Tonight will turn clear and cool, with the wind dying down
Night-time temperatures dropping down to the low=to-mid 40's.

Taking a look at the extended forecast.
[CK/WXPRO=]
MAPS

[SUPER=X5000; set dissolve]
[SUPER=314-Sunny & Breezy/Winds NW 10-20/72-76/Clear &/Cool/42-46;]

[SUPER=#555; ][45S-Powell]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=mjo]
[TAPE#=99-18 26:44]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A convicted killer will be free in a few months because of a clerical error.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Halifax Co./1996]

Louis Jordan Powell Junior's 28-year murder sentence was overturned yesterday by the Virginia Court of Appeals.
The court threw out the sentence because Powell was not tried within five months of his preliminary hearing.
The Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney said of the court's decision:
"In this instance they celebrate form over justice. I think this decision does a disservice to the pursuit of justice in Halifax County."
Powell still has to serve several months in prison on weapons charges.
(------------)

[45E-Duggan]

[ANCHOR=]
[NEWSCAST=Morn]
[WRITER=khu]
[TAPE#=99-13 1:22:54]
[GRAPHIC=Carilion]

A Roanoke woman will spend one year behind bars for defrauding the Carilion Health System.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke]

Teresa Duggan was sentenced yesterday.
She had her own business in Massachusetts, recruiting physicians.
She claims she had 12 years experience placing professionals, but Duggan told the judge that she was "overwhelmed by the magnitude" of Carlion's needs.
Duggan and a Carilion's staff recruiter worked together to steal more than 300-thousand dollars from Carilion.

Duggan has begun paying back her share of the money.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=]
[graphic=none]

The 46- year old mother of three will report to the federal penitentiary at Danbury, Connecticut this Summer.

[45S-Crouch]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-16 33:08]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Bedford County man who fled the state before he could be sent to jail for child molestation now faces even MORE prison time.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Bedford]

46-year old Roger Lee Crouch pleaded guilty to failing to appear at his sentencing hearing last December.
Crouch had been convicted of taking indecent liberties with two young girls.
Police later caught up with him near Corpus Christi, Texas.
Crouch could receive up to 15 years in prison when he's sentenced in July.
(------------)

[45Water-Quality]

[ANCHOR=Melanie]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=tte]
[TAPE#=99-22; 45:54]
[GRAPHIC=]

A combination of new programs are expected to insure that the water in Smith Mountain lake stays clean.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Franklin Co.;]

For a limited time -- Franklin County will pay half the tab for some homeowners to get their septic systems pumped out.
And, Ferrum College will patrol the shoreline looking for leaking drainfields.
Some residents warn about the effect of I-73.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 19:54:30]
[IN Q=All the oil]
((ANN ROGERS/I73 OPPONENT: ALL THE OIL, GREASE, PESTICIDE AND SALT FOR DE-ICING WILL WASH INTO STREAMS, THE ROANOKE RIVER AND THE BLACKWATER RIVER AND SUBSEQUENTLY SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE.))
[SUPER=01-Ann Rogers/I-73 Opponent;]
[RUNS=:15]
[OUT Q=Smith Mountain Lake]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]

So far this season's tests by Ferrum College and the health department show the water is clean.
(------------)

[45Power-Line]

[8E-Monty-Ax]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=eea]
[TAPE#=99-24 21:09]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Deadly Ax]

Police say evidence disputes the story of the truck driver involved in yesterday's fatal I-81 crash.
The accident took the lives of 73-year-old Albert Kiehl (Kyle) and his 72-year-old wife Irene of upstate New York.
Eric Earnhart reports.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=The Virginia State]
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co.; :00]
[SUPER=03-Christiansburg; :14]
[SUPER=01-V. C. Jones/State Police; :22]
[SUPER=01-Jennifer Bishop/Witness; :37]
[SUPER=01-Janet Keene/Neighbor; :49]
[SUPER=@Eric1; 1:17]
[RUNS=1:30]
[OUT Q=EE, News 7]
((The virginia state police began their investigation immediately, focusing their attention on the truck's left front tire. they did find damage but said it was not caused by a blowout, plus there were no skidmarks on the northbound pavement. by the time driver richard wayne west of pulaski tennessee was released from the hospital, police were ready to charge him with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.

[SOT]
[IN Q=]
(( V.C. JONES/VA. STATE POLICE; FROM WHAT WE'VE GLEANED FROM THE INVESTIGATION SO FAR, WE DON'T SEE ANY INDICATION OF ANY MECHANICAL DEFECT AT THIS TIME.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

The memory of the truck sliding down the embankment 100 feet from her house still frightens Jennifer Bishop.

[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((JENNIFER BISHOP/WITNESS; I THOUGHT HE WAS COMING THROUGH THE FENCE, I WASN'T SURE IF HE HAD A GAS TANK ON OR WHAT HE WAS DOING.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

In fact the accident has shaken the roadside neighborhood in more ways than one.

[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((JANET KEENE/NEIGHBOR; IT SHOOK THE HOUSE, I THOUGHT SOMETHING FELL DOWNSTAIDS.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]

neighbors think they should have some kind of protection from accidents like this... like this wall being built along a new stretch of interstate a few miles away.
for some this is the first time they've considered the danger beyond their back doors.

[SOT]
[IN Q=]
((JANET KEENE/NEIGHBOR; I HAD NEVER BEFORE, BUT, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'LL DEFINITELY THINK ABOUT.))
[RUNS=]
[OUT Q=]
[standup]
The evidence of the accident here will be gone soon, but the impact it's had, and the effect it's had on neighbors will be around for some time. In Montgomery Co., Eric Earnhart, News 7))

[8E-81-Fatalities]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=99-15 43:33]
[GRAPHIC=I-81 Traffic Deaths]

Yesterday's accident brought this year's death toll to 10 on Interstate-81.
Most of the collisions occurring from Wythe to Rockbridge counties have involved tractor trailers.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Rockbridge Co./January 3]

The year got off to a bad start January 3rd when eight trucks were among the many vehicles that piled up in Rockbridge County, killing four people.
[SUPER=03-Montgomery Co./March 16]

In March, one man was killed when he drove his CAR into the back of a tractor-trailer in Montgomery County.
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co./May 10]

And earlier this month, a Florida trucker died when his rig ran off 81 near the 581 interchange in Roanoke County.
(-------------)
[ANCHOR=]
[GRAPHIC=None]

Then two more deaths yesterday.
Of course this does NOT mean the truck drivers were always at fault.
State police say traffic deaths in Virginia are DOWN about 20- percent this year compared to last year.

[8E-Fleming]

[ANCHOR=mel]
[NEWSCAST=cutins]
[WRITER=ssm]
[TAPE#=99-17 30:43]
[GRAPHIC=None]

A Lynchburg jury returned with a guilty verdict in just two hours yesterday for capital murder suspect Darryl Fleming.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Lynchburg]

33-year old Fleming was accused of stabbing to death 16- year- old Corey Pennix last August.
Fleming also stole crack cocaine and money from Pennix's socks while he lay bleeding to death.
The jury rejected Fleming's claim of self defense. (------------) The sentencing phase of Fleming's trial starts today.. he could receive the death penalty.