Moderators: jcmanson, Sly Fox, BuryYourDuke
Matt Busse and Ron Brown
Lynchburg News & Advance
November 9, 2006
Corey Dennis Peters, the man charged with driving under the influence in connection with a head-on collision with a family’s minivan Sunday night, had his license revoked for three years in 2004.
Peters, 26, was not scheduled to get his license back until 2007, Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz said Tuesday.
"His license had been removed from him," Krantz said. "He was not supposed to be operating a motor vehicle at all."
Virginia State Police allege Peters was driving a 1979 Chevrolet pickup truck when it struck the minivan on Waterlick Road in Bedford County about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
In the 2003 Toyota minivan were Andy Barrick, Liberty University’s director of alumni affairs; his wife, Linda; their 15-year-old daughter, Jennifer; and 11-year-old son, Josh. The family was heading home from services at Thomas Road Baptist Church.
Josh Barrick was released Tuesday from Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. His sister remained unconscious Tuesday afternoon at the University of Virginia Medical Center, where she’s being treated for a brain injury.
Her vital signs remain strong, Ron Godwin, LU’s executive vice president and chief operating officer, said Tuesday.
Andy Barrick, 40, is scheduled to undergo surgery at Roanoke Memorial on Wednesday to repair a damaged pelvis.
Linda Barrick underwent surgery at Lynchburg General Hospital Monday to repair an injured foot and hand and is listed in fair condition.
Peters remained in critical condition Tuesday at Lynchburg General.
Krantz said Peters, of Big Island, petitioned Bedford Circuit Court to grant him a restricted license in 2005, which would have given him limited driving privileges. The petition was denied because of his driving record.
"Because we were aware of Mr. Peters’ history, we objected to the (restricted license) in court," Krantz said.
Court records show that in May 2004, Peters was convicted of a second DUI in five years, and his license was revoked.
He has been convicted of more than 20 offenses, including reckless driving and driving on a suspended license, in the past seven years.
Krantz said Peters could face additional charges from the Sunday night wreck and an alleged hit-and-run that occurred on Timberlake Road in Campbell County shortly before the crash.
Those charges could include hit-and-run and eluding police in Campbell County, Krantz said.
He also could face vehicular maiming charges in connection with injuries sustained by the Barrick family.
Krantz said any additional charges are pending the medical outcome of the injuries.
"At this point in time, the legal issues are taking a backseat to the medical issues," he said.
Peters’ newest DUI charge could be upgraded from a misdemeanor to a felony, Krantz said.
A driver’s first two DUIs are misdemeanors. State law allows a third DUI within 10 years to be prosecuted as a felony.
Krantz said stiff fines or jail time often deter repeat DUI offenders. But not always.
"These are the kinds of cases that illustrate when certain people decide to drink and drive, anything short of a seven-day-a-week, 24-hour guard on them is not going to keep them from driving," he said.
Visitors to The News & Advance Web site have questioned why a Campbell County deputy who stopped Peters shortly before the head-on collision hadn’t handcuffed him or taken away his keys.
Campbell County Sheriff Terry Gaddy said Tuesday that his deputy acted properly.
"This was a very tragic accident," Gaddy said. "The officer didn’t do anything wrong."
The Campbell County deputy spotted Peters’ truck sitting in the middle of Waterlick Road near a stoplight shortly after getting a report of a hit-and-run accident on Timberlake Road.
The officer hadn’t confirmed that Peters’ truck was the vehicle involved.
"The guy could have been sitting there in diabetic shock," Gaddy said. "There are any number of reasons he could have been sitting there in the middle of the road."
Gaddy said the officer, who had radioed State Police and Bedford County deputies, walked up to Peters’ truck, but Peters was slumped over the steering wheel and unresponsive.
The deputy reached into the truck and unsuccessfully tried to turn the key and shut the engine off.
The deputy put Peters’ truck in park and depressed its parking brake.
Peters then seemed to awaken and he was asked to turn off the truck’s engine, Gaddy said.
Meanwhile, the deputy walked back to talk with the hit-and-run victim - who had followed Peters and called police - to see if Peter’s truck was the suspect vehicle.
Suddenly, Peters’ truck started up and sped off.
"We did take action," Gaddy said. "You never know what somebody is thinking or what they’re going to do."
Gaddy said the deputy could not seize the keys to Peters’ truck while talking to him because he had not established a legal reason to take control of Peters’ vehicle.
"We have constitutional guidelines that we have to follow on vehicle stops," Gaddy said. "It’s like seizing somebody’s property. We can’t do that without probable cause."
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
By Ron Brown
rbrown@newsadvance.com
November 27, 2006
A Forest teenager, who suffered a brain injury when her family’s minivan was struck head-on earlier this month by an accused drunken driver, is now responding to verbal commands.
Jennifer Barrick, 15, is the only member of a family of four who is still in the hospital.
Her grandfather, Ed Hindson, described her as being semi-conscious while receiving continued treatment at a Charlottesville children’s rehabilitation center.
“She opens her eyes at times,” he said. “She’s not fully awake.”
She is one of four family members who was hospitalized following the Nov. 5 wreck on Waterlick Road in Bedford County.
Her brother, Josh, 11, was the first to be released and has returned to classes at Liberty Christian Academy, Hindson said.
Her father and mother, Andy and Linda Barrick, are home recovering from their injuries.
“Andy has a broken hip,” Hindson said. “They had to operate on him and he’s using a walker to get around.”
Linda Barrick can only stand on one leg.
“She’s pretty much in a wheelchair,” Hindson said. “She can’t stand on the other foot yet.”
Hindson, an assistant to the chancellor and professor of religion at Liberty University, said he’s thankful for the family’s recovery.
“It is miraculous that the four of them survived,” he said. “They are all progressing at the right direction at this point.”
Corey Dennis Peters, who has been charged with driving under the influence in connection with the wreck, was in serious, but stable condition at Lynchburg General on Monday.
Police allege Peters ran his pickup truck into the Barricks’ minivan about 8:30 p.m. as the family was riding home from church.
Peters’ driver’s license had been revoked for three years in 2004, Bedford County Circuit Court records show.
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles records, on file in the court clerk’s office, show Peters has three previous DUI convictions since 2002.
According to DMV records, Peters had a previous wreck that resulted in injuries on June 27, 2003, the same day he was charged with his third DUI.
Court records show that Peters was ordered to enter the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program in May 2004.
The program attempts to counsel drunken drivers on the dangers of driving while impaired.
Campbell County Sheriff Terry Gaddy said earlier this month a deputy found Peters’ truck in the middle of Waterlick Road near a stoplight soon after receiving word of a hit-and-run on Timberlake Road.
Peters was slumped over the steering wheel and unresponsive.
The deputy tried unsuccessfully to turn the truck’s engine off, shifted it into park and depressed the emergency brake, Gaddy said.
Peters woke up, and the deputy asked him to shut off the engine.
The deputy walked away to talk to the hit-and-run victim - who had followed Peters and called police - and Peters sped off, Gaddy said.
When the deputy caught up with Peters’ truck, it had already struck the Barricks’ minivan.
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
Wreck victim awakens
By Ron Brown
rbrown@newsadvance.com
December 10, 2006
Jennifer Barrick, who was critically injured early last month when an accused drunken driver ran head on into her family’s van, is now showing signs of waking up.
The 15-year-old Liberty Christian Academy student has been in a medically induced coma for several weeks as she recovers from a serious brain injury.
The Rev. Jerry Falwell, pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, updated Barrick’s condition on Sunday from the pulpit.
The Barrick family attends the church. Her father, Andy, is the director of alumni affairs at Liberty University.
“She’s had a great week,” Falwell told his congregation Sunday morning. “She’s awakening. She’s talking to her parents. She’s saying, ‘I love you.’ She’s calling them by name. She’s told them where she attends school. She has said, ‘I want to go home.’”
In a telephone interview Sunday night, Falwell said she regained consciousness early last week.
“Each day, she is a little more alert,” he said. “She is making great progress. Her family is very excited.”
Her father and mother, Linda Barrick, are no longer in the hospital, but are still recovering from injuries received in the wreck.
Her brother, Josh, 11, was the first to be released from the hospital and has resumed classes at LCA.
The Barrick’s van was demolished after it was struck by a pickup truck Nov. 5 on Waterlick Road in Bedford County.
Corey Dennis Peters, 26, of Big Island has been charged with drunken driving as a result of the wreck.
Peters, who was also critically injured in the wreck, has been transferred from Lynchburg General Hospital to Virginia Baptist Hospital, where he is in long-term care.
Police allege Peters ran his pickup truck into the Barricks’ minivan as the family was riding home from church.
Virginia State Police have seized his medical records, particularly those relating to his blood-alcohol content on the night of the wreck.
A search warrant, obtained by Trooper J.R. Mullins, also sought all treatment records from nurse and physicians who attended to Peters.
The affidavit was filed under a Virginia code section for vehicular maiming. So far, Peters has not been charged with that offense.
Peters’ driver’s license was revoked for three years in 2004, Bedford County Circuit Court records show.
Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles records, on file in the clerk’s office, show Peters has three previous DUI convictions since 2002.
According to DMV records, Peters had a previous wreck that resulted in injuries on June 27, 2003, the same day he was charged with his third DUI.
Campbell County Sheriff Terry Gaddy said moments before the wreck with the Barrick family a deputy found Peters’ truck in the middle of Waterlick Road near a stoplight soon after receiving word of an earlier hit-and-run on Timberlake Road.
Peters was unresponsive and slumped over the steering wheel.
The deputy tried unsuccessfully to turn off the truck’s engine, but shifted the vehicle into park and depressed the emergency brake, Gaddy said.
Peters woke up, and the deputy asked him to shut off the truck’s engine.
The deputy walked away to talk to the hit-and-run victim, who had followed Peters and called police dispatchers.
Peters sped off, Gaddy said.
When the deputy caught up with Peters’ truck, it had already struck the Barricks’ minivan.
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
LAST UPDATED: Tuesday 1/9 11:00 pm Eastern Standard Time
Andy
Coached a basketball game and is doing more driving. Off of narcotics for pain. Still taking nerve pain medicine. Getting around with hand crutches. Visits Jen frequently.
Recovering from clean break in pelvis (repaired 11/8, 3 plates, 12 screws), backside muscles torn from pelvis (re-attached 11/8), fractured finger/hand, arm lacerations, left leg has two blood clots and damage to multiple nerves. Staying at his parents' house.
(updated 1/6 6:00pm)
Linda
Gradual improvements. Getting around well on her own in a wheelchair. Rib pain is getting better. Allowed to put some pressure on left foot. Able to use fingers on left hand, but wrist still not working. Visits with Jen nearly every day.
Recovering from badly broken left arm (plate installed) with nerve damage, badly broken left foot (two temporary plates - surgery to remove plates expected sometime in February), broken ribs, bruised lungs. Staying at Andy's parents' house.
(updated 1/6 6:00pm)
Jen
Nice visit with Gramps and Nanny today, and Aunt Christy arrived from Georgia. Eating pretty well, but needs to drink more. Slow progress continues. Physical progress is outpacing cognitive progress. Using her right hand more now; throwing and catching a bean bag/ball with both hands. Eye exam shows no damage to eyes, so remaining difficulty with eyes is brain related. Both eyes can see to the left, but not to the right. Walking better, still with support/help. She is sorting out her memory; recalling things pretty well from before the accident, but not yet remembering much from day to day. Hearing is excellent. For a good description of her cognitive progress, see Level 5 on this Assessment Scale. Un-scheduled visits are discouraged, because the medical staff have placed restrictions on number and frequency of visitors.
Recovering from fractured skull, fractured frontal sinus (above left eye), enlarged spleen (no surgery needed), internal pockets of blood at base and top of brain. Pressure at brain now normal. Vital signs good. CAT scans good.
In UVa Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center in Charlottesville, with a full-day schedule of physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, and classroom.
(updated 1/9 11:00pm)
Josh
Josh is doing great. He's a big help to his mom and dad, and his three-point shot is as good as ever (which is phenomenal).
Recovered from minor fracture in nose, crack in orbital bone around left eye, minor scratch on spleen. No further treatment needed. Started back to school Tuesday 11/14.
(updated 12/30 9:00pm)
Ways to Help
Because of the logistics necessary for dealing with their injuries, the rest required for healing, and the trips to Charlottesville, it is difficult for Andy and Linda to entertain visitors. One idea for out of town friends and family to help is to send them gift cards for local merchants. Lots of gasoline, coffee, and snacks are consumed during the trips between Lynchburg and Charlottesville, so Sheetz cards are helpful. For everything else, Kroger cards are good. They can be sent to Andy and Linda's address in Forest, Virginia (mail is being forwarded).
JLFJR wrote:Thanks for your input, PA! Very helpful.
No charges in Barrick wreck
BEDFORD - The man prosecutors say is responsible for drunkenly ramming his truck into a family of four a year ago may never face justice, but that’s not how the Bedford County Commonwealth’s Attorney sees it.
“It looks like, by his own actions, Mr. Peters has created his own prison,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Randy Krantz said.
In an earlier interview, Gaddy said that Keller found Peters’ truck in the middle of Waterlick Road that night when responding to a hit-and-run call from Timberlake Road. Gaddy said the deputy found Peters passed out and slumped over the steering wheel.Tried to turn off the truck's engine? Tried? Oh come on.
The deputy tried to turn off the truck’s engine, but succeeded only in shifting it into park and applying the emergency brake. After rousing Peters and asking him to turn off the engine, the deputy went to talk to the nearby hit-and-run victim, Gaddy said.
At that point, Peters sped away, the sheriff said. By the time Keller caught up, Peters had already hit the Barricks head on.
Catching up: Family writes about recovery and God after devastating crashhttp://www2.newsadvance.com/news/2012/m ... r-1736488/
By: Darrell Laurant | Lynchburg News and Advance
Published: March 02, 2012
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about Jennifer Barrick is what she chooses not to pray for.
In November 2006, when she was 15, a horrific wreck left Barrick in a coma for five weeks and hospitalized for five months. Her teen years, once full of promise, were swallowed up by a slow and agonizing rehabilitation from major brain damage. She still finds short-term memories elusive, and “walks into things” because of lingering eye problems from an optic nerve damaged in the wreck.
Moreover, she says, “a lot of my friends have moved on, although I’ve kept some and made some new ones.”
One would think, therefore, a person with the enormous religious faith that Barrick has exhibited for most of her life would be beseeching God to take it all away, accelerate her recovery and give her back her old life.
But she doesn’t.
Instead, she says, “I’m grateful to God for using me as a vessel this way. I’m not the person I used to be, and that’s OK. I don’t want to be that person any more.”
The new Jennifer Barrick has been caught up in a whirlwind this month. Her mother, Linda, just published a book (helped by Jennifer and freelance writer John Perry) titled “Miracle for Jen,” and it obviously has struck a chord.
The Barricks were on the “Fox and Friends” program Friday morning and will be interviewed on NBC’s “Today” Sunday morning. They have a book-signing today at the Wards Road Lifeways Christian bookstore from noon to 2 p.m. and another Sunday after the 11 a.m. service at Thomas Road Baptist Church.
--Fumble (1961-2009), RIP
- By jmclaughlin
- By ECC29
- By Purple Haize