A 16-year-old St. Joseph girl has been charged as an adult in a December crash in Kansas City that killed two people.
Erica R. Simpson was under the influence of a combination of cocaine, marijuana and benzodiazepines when she drove a Ford Explorer the wrong way on Missouri Highway 152 and into the path of another car, according to court documents filed in the Clay County Circuit Court.
The head-on collision killed a passenger in the Explorer, Ashley Witkowski, 16, of Clarksdale, Mo., and the driver of the other vehicle, Scott Kehr, 26, of Meadville, Mo.
Ms. Simpson, who was 15 at the time of crash, is charged with two felonies of first-degree involuntary
manslaughter in the deaths.
Following the Dec. 19 crash, Ms. Simpson gave officers a birthdate two years older than she actually was, according to court records. She didn’t have a driver’s license. The officers noted she was slurring her speech and had bloodshot eyes.
Ms. Simpson was treated as an adult because of the false information she gave officers. Police took a blood sample, which later tested positive for benzodiazepines, cannabinoids and cocaine metabolites, according to court records.
Besides criminal charges, another passenger in the Ford, Jeramie James, 22, of St. Joseph, is suing Ms. Simpson for $25,000 in personal injuries.
Mr. James suffered head trauma and traumatic brain injury in the crash, and thereby his future income earning potential has forever been diminished, according to court documents filed by the Montee Law Firm on his behalf.
On Friday afternoon, there was no answer at the door of the St. Joseph address listed for Ms. Simpson in court documents. Her next hearing date wasn’t available on Friday.
Ahmad Safi can be reached at
ahmadsafi@npgco.com.
This story has 3 comments. Click here to join in on the discussion.
Story Tools
Hyperlink Legend
E-mail story
Print friendly version
iPod friendly version
Today's Top Headlines
Smurfit workers go on strike
Cotter takes his wings to state post
Raises, insurance in doubt for county employees
Senator wants to dampen river parties
U.S. Bank robbed on Belt
- More Headlines
- Recently Discussed
This comment was removed by the site staff.
Posted by gr8fan on April 26, 2008 at 12:46 a.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
Posted by younggrandma on April 27, 2008 at 1:34 p.m.This comment was removed by the site staff.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them.
Rules: We don't allow comments that degrade others on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability. Epithets, abusive language and obscene comments will not be tolerated... nor will defamation. Brief quotes are okay as long as the source is given. Blatent cutting and pasting is not acceptable.Robust, even heated debate we like. Straying off-topic or flaming, we don't. Please read our user agreement.
Requires free stjoenews.net registration.