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Updated: 11:00 AM Dec 7, 2009
New Trial Date Set for Woman Charged in DUI Crash that Killed Mother, Two St. Joe Students
Erma Brown is charged with three counts of driving under the influence causing death.
Posted: 11:00 AM Dec 7, 2009Reporter: Carrie Cline Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com |
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UPDATE: December 7
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A new trial date has been set for the woman charged in that fiery crash that killed a mother and two St. Joe High School students earlier this year.
Erma Brown's trial was scheduled to start Monday in Cabell County Circuit Court , but Judge Dan O’Hanlon postponed it until March 15.
Brown is charged with three counts of driving under the influence causing death.
UPDATE: September 4 10:45am
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A trial date has been set for the woman charged in that fiery crash that killed a mother and two St. Joe High School students.
Judge Dan O’Hanlon set Erma Brown's trial for December 7 in Cabell County Circuit Court.
Brown is charged with three counts of driving under the influence causing death.
Brown remains in the Western Regional Jail.
During the brief hearing, there was no discussion of a motion to transfer Brown to an in-patient long term treatment rehab clinic.
UPDATE: August 20 11:00am
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The woman charged in the fiery crash that killed a mother and two St. Joe High School students was back in court Thursday.
Erma Brown faces three counts of driving under the influence causing death.
The crash occurred April 2 on Alternate Route 10 in the Barboursville area.
Investigators say Brown crossed the center line and hit the car driven by 47-year-old Carole Crawford. Crawford, her daughter Meaghan, 16, and Kelsey Kuhn, 15, died in the crash after their car caught fire.
During Thursday’s hearing, Brown’s attorney asked that his client be granted home confinement until her trial because she is better and no longer on prescription drugs.
Judge Dan O’Hanlon denied the motion, but did say he might entertain a similar motion in the future if they can find a good in-patient long term treatment rehab clinic.
Brown will remain the Western Regional Jail.
Her next court appearance is set for September 4.
No word on a new trial date. The original date was Monday, August 17.
If convicted, Brown faces one to five years in prison on each count
UPDATE from 6pm Newscast
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- More than three months after a fiery crash that killed a woman and two St. Joseph High School students in Cabell County, police have arrested the driver of the other vehicle.
Investigators say Erma Brown caused the crash. She was the woman driving an SUV that crashed into a car carrying Carole Crawford, her daughter, Meaghan, and her friend, Kelsey Kuhn. Cabell County Sheriff Tom McComas said Brown was under the influence of a lot of prescription drugs.
Brown was quiet -- almost stoic -- as sheriff's deputies walked her into the Cabell County Courthouse. She faces three counts of driving under the influence causing death. The crash occurred April 2 on Alternate Route 10 in the Barboursville area.
“One of the things that took so long (is) no local lab could provide us quantitative levels of the drugs in her system," McComas said. "I personally sent one of my deputies to Philadelphia to drop specimens off at the lab."
Three drugs were found in Brown's system. The first two are more commonly known as Remeron -- used to treat depression and Klonopin -- a drug for panic and seizure disorders that's known to cause depression. Drug information for Klonopin shows a long list of potential side effects, indicating it should not be used while operating heavy machinery or driving.
“Not guilty,” Brown responded to the charges.
She was arraigned in Cabell County Circuit Court Tuesday afternoon, which didn't come as much comfort for the family of the victims.
“It's very tragic for the family," McComas said. "Not really closure, just the beginning of this process. The family is thankful for compassion of the community. We're just happy to make things a little easier for them to bear."
Here at WSAZ, we received a return phone call from the Crawford family. Chris Crawford, Meaghan’s brother and Carole's son, said he and his dad appreciate the prayers and support from the community and trust the sheriff's department and prosecutor's office to handle the case properly. As for his thoughts on Erma Brown, Chris said their grieving process does not include giving her any thought or consideration.
Each of the three counts against Brown are punishable by one to five years in prison. The trial is set for Aug. 15.
ORIGINAL STORY
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A grand jury has indicted a woman on DUI causing death charges in connection with a crash that killed a mother and two St. Joseph High School students.
The Cabell County Grand Jury returned the indictment Tuesday morning, charging 42-year-old Erma Brown of Barboursville with three counts of driving under the influence causing death. Click on the document link above to read the full indictment.
The indictment alleges that Brown had several prescription drugs in her system at the time she was involved in the accident, including anti-depressant called Mirtazapine, Clonazepam and 7-Amino-Clonazepam.
Investigators say Brown crossed the center line and was clearly in oncoming traffic when she hit the car driven by 47-year-old Carole Crawford. Crawford, her daughter Meaghan, 16, and Kelsey Kuhn, 15, died in the crash after their car caught fire.
Carole worked at Marshall University's Newman Center. Meaghan and Kelsey were both students at St. Joseph High School in Huntington.
The 2-vehicle accident happened at about 7:30 a.m. on April 2 on Alternate Route 10 near the intersection of Eden’s Branch Road in Barboursville.
Brown was arraigned at 1 p.m. in Cabell County Circuit Court. She pleaded not guilty to all the charges .
According to WebMD.com, a medical website, here is information on each of the prescription drugs Brown allegedly had in her system:
- Mirtazapine is used to treat depression. It improves mood and feelings of well-being. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant that works by restoring the balance of natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Limit alcoholic beverages and ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol.
Clonazepam is used to treat seizure disorders and panic attacks. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. This drug works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).
This drug may make you dizzy or drowsy; use caution engaging in activities requiring alertness such as driving or using machinery. Avoid alcoholic beverages.
WSAZ has a crew at the courthouse. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for more information.
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Latest Comments
well how much klonipin and remeron did she have in her system and did she have her own script for it. yes thise side effects listed can happen, but usually only when someone starts taking the drug, they wear off after a few days of use and she has probably been taking them for a long time, and they are possible side effects, which means that you may or may not have these side effects. especially after you taken the drugs for a while.people take klonipin and drive everyday, did she or did she not have a prescription and was her system overloaded with them.
What I would really like to know, is was she prescribed these medications? A person can drive on medication once their bodies get adjusted to them. It says on medication labels "Avoid driving or operating large machinary untill you know how this medication effects you".There is a lot of people on seizure medication on the roads.The people that have seizure disorders and it has been controlled for over a year because of medication, they are able to drive. Sometimes doctors prescribe seizure meds for other things also.I think if she had been taking the medication for a long time,and her blood work showed she had the prescribed levels, and if it was prescribed to her then why should she go to jail for an accident? Unless her doctor told her she was unable to drive, or it was on the prescription "NO DRIVING".Yeah I could see her going to jail.If it was an accident,I do not think she is a murderer and prison is for murders.Prison is not made for people who are in accidents.
To Get a Life: I realize that you must be family. However the fact of the matter is that she killed 3 people while driving under the influence. This was more than just a terrible accident. When you are driving under the influence, which I believe was shown by blood work, then you need to be held accountable. Over the recommended level is DUI. She was over the prescribed dose. Who it is doesn't matter. The fact that 3 people, two of them being children, died the most horrific way. FIRE. By all means, stand up for your family. However, don't insult the families of the 3 people that died by trying to justify someone who was under the influence when their loved one was killed.
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