Involuntary manslaughter charges brought against driver in fatal accident
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Staff reports
Published: May 12, 2008
The driver who allegedly struck a van, killing an 8-year-old on Mother’s Day, is in custody and facing additional charges.
Prince William County police initially charged Rodney Aaron Martin, 22, with driving under the influence and he was released on personal recognizance Sunday.
Monday the charge was amended to include involuntary manslaughter and he was returned to the Prince William-Manassas regional jail, where he is being held without bond.
Police report a 2004 Honda Odyssey was stopped in the left turn lane at the traffic light on Lee Highway at Somerset Crossing Drive in Gainesville around 6 a.m. Sunday when a 1998 Toyota Tacoma drifted into their lane, rear-ending it, said Officer Erika Hernandez, police spokeswoman.
The 8-year-old flew forward into the center console, causing severe injuries, Hernandez said.
Joshua Adams, who lived on Westmoreland Drive in Warrenton, and his 52-year-old mother, also a passenger in the van, were flown to an area hospital.
Joshua was pronounced dead at 2:55 p.m., police said. He had been laying down in the back seat and was not wearing his seatbelt, police said.
His 20-year-old brother, who was driving the van, was treated at the scene for his injuries, police said.
The driver of the pickup truck, 22-year-old Rodney Aaron Martin, was transported to a local hospital and treated for his injuries, Hernandez said.
Martin, of 9013 Quarry Road in Manassas, has a June 13 court date.
The investigation continues.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( jmugrad ) on May 14, 2008 at 5:49 pm
You can not seriously be suggesting his mother should be charged with a crime? Isn’t losing her son enough? Please have some compassion, the crash was such that there was no chance of survival for anyone in the back seat, seat belt or not. Yes, we should all make sure our kids wear their seat belts, this is a terrible reminder. But when you’re perfect, then you can comment. How about some condemnation for a two time offender (at least) drunk driver who plowed into that vehicle and full speed. My heart goes out to the family. God bless them.
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Posted by ( Sparkly ) on May 14, 2008 at 5:36 pm
It is sad. My co-worker is this kid Aunt. she is destroyed so is the whole family. She said if the kid was with his sitbelt on, he might it been split in half… He was lying in the back seat b/c he was sleeping., is not fair to jugde the family when almost everybody let their kids not wear a sitbelt. My deeply condolences.
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Posted by ( sassyjj ) on May 14, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Yes it was wrong the boy was not in a belt..but HELLO...ihe was hit by a drunk driver???? So if he was in the belt he still would have been hit.
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Posted by ( ZIGGY ) on May 13, 2008 at 10:59 am
Has the brother or mother been charged? I know it’s horrible that the boy lost his life but his family could have prevented this also. Unfortunately - the drunk will probably get away with this because it could have ‘possibly’ been avoided. And what’s worse is that with this in his mind - he will probably go out and do it again.
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Posted by ( RSF750 ) on May 13, 2008 at 9:05 am
I think we are too tolerant of people who drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. I want judges and the legislature to be take these people off the road. And if it means jail then so be it.
Shame on all of you people who use alcohol to “feel good” and “party” then drive. You are among the most inconsiderate people on the planet!
Instead of showing contempt to people who challange your “right to drink” why not turn your contempt inward and figure out why you have to drink alcohol or use drugs to feel good.
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Posted by ( VA_Fireman ) on May 13, 2008 at 8:38 am
It really makes me mad to hear about or to see a vehicle with a child in it that isn’t in a car seat or buckled in. It’s sad that this child died in an accident because of his mother’s negligence. Being a firefighter in the county, I see accidents all the time where people get ejected and die because of not wearing their seatbelts, but that’s their choice, a child shouldn’t have the choice, they should be buckled in at all times. I hope that the drunk driver gets to spend a long time in jail to think about what he did and about the child that he killed.
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