ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 27, 1996 TAG: 9606270073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: HARRISONBURG
A grand jury has indicted a state trooper on a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving as a result of wreck during a police pursuit that killed a man and injured his wife.
Gerald Gray, a lawyer who is serving as special prosecutor in the case, said Trooper M.D. Spangler was indicted Tuesday by a Smyth County Circuit Court grand jury.
John Paul Shenk, 59, was killed and his wife, Dorothy, injured when Spangler allegedly lost control of his cruiser during the Sept. 10 pursuit of a speeder on Interstate 81.
``What we have here is a police officer who made an error in judgment,'' Gray said.
Shenk, an Elkton minister, died at the scene. Dorothy Shenk had minor injuries, and Spangler hurt his neck and back, broke his jaw and had facial cuts, authorities said.
Spangler was not chasing the Shenks.
If convicted, Spangler could be sentenced to 12 months in jail, fined $2,500 and have his driver's license suspended, Gray said.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 33 lines KEYWORDS: FATALITYby CNB