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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 31, 1994                   TAG: 9408310039
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GIRL, 12, CHARGED IN FATAL CAR CRASH

Trooper K.S. Newland, who investigated the July 14 accident, said he served petitions Monday informing the girl of the charges. He and Jay Cook III, assistant commonwealth's attorney in Frederick County, did not say what charges were filed.

Doug Tucker, the staff head of the Winchester-Frederick County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, said Tuesday that petitions for two charges of involuntary manslaughter had been filed against a 12-year-old girl. He declined to release her name.

According to a state police report, a car driven by the girl spun out of control on Virginia 7 and struck a guard rail, splitting the car in half.

The three occupants, who were not wearing seat belts, where thrown from the car.

Passengers Stephanie J. Steverson, 12, and Brandy Nicole Martin, 14, both of Winchester, were killed. The driver was hospitalized for three days.

Police said the car belonged to the boyfriend of the girl's mother.

According to Newland's report, the girl got the car keys from the side pocket of the car door.

The car's owner said last month that the girls were going to a shopping mall in Martinsburg, W.Va., when the accident occurred.

Keywords:
FATALITY