Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, May 14, 1993                   TAG: 9305140228
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VINTON MAN ADMITS GUILT IN FATAL CRASH

Michael Glenn Reeves Jr., 22, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and drunken driving.

He is scheduled to be sentenced June 10 in Roanoke Circuit Court, and faces a maximum punishment of 11 years.

Dennis James Wright, 39, of Roanoke, was killed Dec. 23. According to Chief Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Betty Jo Anthony, Reeves had been drinking and playing cards before he, Wright and another man climbed into the truck.

Authorities have said Reeves was seen driving his truck alongside a Norfolk Southern Corp. train on a Roanoke street that paralleled the railroad tracks, then trying to beat the train to the crossing by driving through flashing lights.

The train hit the truck at the crossing on Hollins Road Northeast, near the railroad's East End Shops.

Wright was pronounced dead at the scene. Reeves and the other passenger spent several days in Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Railroad officials said the train attempted to stop, and was going 28 mph in a 45-mph speed limit area at the time of the impact.

Reeves, who did not testify Thursday, was allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing date.

Anthony said that Reeves at first was charged with aggravated involuntary manslaughter - punishable by up to 20 years - under the theory that his efforts to race the train amounted to extreme recklessness.

That was based on the train conductor's observations, however; Reeves has not said that he was racing. Given the "risks of litigation," Anthony asked the charge be reduced to involuntary manslaughter.

Keywords:
FATALITY