ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270058
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE HUDSON STAFF WRITER
Scott Allman dragged on a cigarette, flicked it out the car and hung his left arm out the window as he led police on a high-speed chase that ended in the deaths of a Vinton couple and their 8-week-old daughter.
Roanoke County prosecutors will try to put a tight focus on that image of nonchalance at 90 mph when Allman is sentenced Sept. 3 on three counts of manslaughter.
As expected, Allman, 21, pleaded guilty Wednesday to the manslaughter charges plus two traffic offenses.
Allman, his eyes red and his jaw trembling, said little, save for respectful "Yes sirs" and "No sirs" as the judge went over his plea.
When the judge asked if he had questions, Allman said, "No sir. I'm just sorry for what I did."
But Commonwealth's Attorney Skip Burkart said it's too little, too late. Allman's casual demeanor during the chase showed his contempt for the safety of others, Burkart said.
"We have three people dead," the prosecutor said. "I really don't think 'I'm sorry' is going to eliminate that."
Allman faces a maximum sentence of 311/2 years.
On April 21, Allman led Roanoke and Roanoke County police on a 17.3-mile chase through the valley. It began on U.S. 220 south of the city, continued north on Interstate 581, exited onto Hershberger Road and then headed north onto Plantation Road.
Speeds reached 90 mph or more; Allman covered the distance in his Dodge four-door in just more than 131/2 minutes. He ran red lights, spun tires on gravel shoulders, drove on the wrong side of the road and sideswiped one car before running the light at Plantation and Williamson roads near Hollins.
There, at 2:08 p.m., his car smashed into a Monte Carlo heading south on Williamson.
Lori Denise Mason, 36, was thrown out of the car. She died almost instantly of multiple head and chest injuries.
Her husband, Thomas F. Faucher Jr., 34, was trapped inside. He died 49 minutes later from multiple trauma.
Their daughter, Joleen Faucher, just 14 pounds and 58 days old, was flung from the car, over a culvert and into a patch of tall grass.
At first, police were unaware a baby had been in the car. No one saw her thrown out. Her mother was dead, her father unconscious.
But police and rescuers saw a smashed infant car seat - "It was virtually demolished," a detective said Wednesday - and began looking.
They found Joleen in the grass
She died in the hospital at five minutes before midnight.
The Sunday afternoon chase began because Allman was afraid of being stopped by police. He was already driving on a suspended license and was wanted for failing to show up for court.
Allman said in a statement to police that he spotted Officer John McPhail's car in the parking lot of an antique store along U.S. 220. Allman, whose wife was next to him, in the passenger seat, pulled into the lot to try to avoid being spotted.
But, according to police, McPhail had already taken note of Allman's car, because its windows appeared to be illegally tinted and the driver was acting suspiciously by pulling into the lot rather than driving past.
Detective Paul C. Nielsen testified that McPhail wasn't in a good position to approach Allman in the lot, so he waited until Allman pulled onto the highway again.
Then the chase took off, with another county officer and, eventually, two city squad cars joining.
Allman said his wife pleaded with him, "Scott, you're scaring me."
"I don't know what to do," he told her. "I'm going to jail anyway."
Linda Allman told police her husband asked her to unbuckle her seat belt and slide next to him, but she refused. Scott Allman said she lit him another cigarette and handed him a soda. She said he asked for a cigarette, but she was too scared to give him one.
As Allman roared through the city, Nielsen testified, officers saw him flick a cigarette out and drive with one hand on the wheel. His left arm hung outside "in a relaxed fashion."
Nielsen said witnesses indicated the officers "weren't pushing" Allman - they kept their distance and tried to keep him in sight. After finally learning the identity of the driver, McPhail pulled over.
Allman sped on, even though he saw Williamson Road traffic crossing Planation Road in front of him. "I tried to go across the intersection, and 'bam,' I hit this car."
After police grabbed Allman and put him in a squad car, he asked how much jail time he might get. He didn't ask about his victims, Nielsen said.
The next day, Allman asked detectives whether he'd be able to repair his car.
Three hours after the crash, Allman told a detective that he'd done the "stupidest thing" ever.
"What was stupid?" the detective asked.
"I ran," Allman said.
"Why did you run?''
"I'm so scared of jail," Allman said. "I know I'm 21, but I'm stupid."
LENGTH: Medium: 98 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Allman (headshot)by CNB