Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 3, 1993 TAG: 9307030237
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Phillip William Linkous, 21, of Blacksburg, was indicted by a county grand jury Thursday in the death of Daniel Victor Stetler, who also was 21. The indictment charges Linkous was driving under the influence of alcohol and described his actions that night as "so gross, wanton, and culpable as to show a reckless disregard for human life."
Stetler, of Progress Street in Blacksburg, was driving south on Prices Fork Road on March 11 when he was struck head-on by a car driven by Linkous.
The wreck happened shortly after 9 p.m. about a mile north of Virginia 114, just above the sewage treatment plant. Stetler was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital by medical helicopter and was pronounced dead at about 11:30 p.m.
Trooper Joe Diamond said Linkous' car crossed the double line and went onto the wrong side of the road, striking Stetler's car. Linkous' car then spun and was struck by a third car driven by Cleve G. Smithers, 21, of Austinville.
Linkous was taken to Radford Community Hospital for multiple injuries, including broken hips and internal injuries, Diamond said. Smithers was treated and released at Montgomery Regional Hospital.
Diamond said in March that alcohol was found in Linkous' car and that hospital records indicated he was under the influence.
The grand jury also returned indictments against a former Montgomery County woman accusing her of shooting her husband on Christmas Day.
Debra L. Shifflett Roach, 36, who formerly lived on Thomas Lane, faces charges of maliciously wounding Clarence D. Roach and using a firearm to commit the wounding.
A bullet from a .380-caliber automatic handgun struck Roach, 37, on the left side of his head beneath the temple. He spent several days in a hospital.
Debra Roach was not charged until Jan. 5 because authorities were investigating two different versions of the shooting.
Clarence Roach told authorities he was in bed when his wife came into the bedroom, kneeled beside him, kissed him and told him she loved him, then said she had a surprise for him. He was then shot, Roach told Montgomery County investigators.
Debra Roach said her husband had shot himself. She is free on $90,000 bond. Clarence Roach filed for divorce after he was shot, his attorney, Joe Painter of Blacksburg, said.
by CNB