THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 24, 1995 TAG: 9508240603
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Involuntary manslaughter charges against a Portsmouth woman accused of ramming another vehicle Sunday on the Western Freeway, killing a 14-year-old passenger, were upgraded Wednesday to second-degree murder.
Irma Ziehr, 25, of the 20 block of Woodmill Court, was charged earlier with attempted murder. She is being held in the Portsmouth City Jail.
The charges are linked to the death of Jennifer Erickson, of the 4700 block of Helensburgh Drive in Chesapeake. Erickson was killed when the Jeep wagon she was in flipped and crashed.
The driver of the Jeep, 21-year-old Wanda Zavala, was treated and released from a hospital.
Police said Ziehr pursued the Jeep, owned by her estranged husband, after she saw Zavala driving it. Ziehr rammed the Jeep, causing it to hit a guard rail. Erickson died at the scene. Ziehr and two passengers, both juveniles, were not hurt, police said.
Police spokesman G.A. Brown said officers involved in the investigation have placed a memorial wreath at the site of the collision.
KEYWORDS: MURDER by CNB