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Published: July 14, 2008
Updated: September 18, 2008
CHATHAM – The trial scheduled today for a Danville woman accused of manslaughter has been continued because her attorney is ill.
Monica Leigh Major, of 1030 Ferry Road, was supposed to stand trial today, but her attorney, Joe Garrett, had a medical emergency, said Bryan Haskins, deputy commonwealth attorney.
Haskins said he has to get an update on Garrett’s condition and gather out-of-state witnesses before the trial can be re-scheduled.
Major is charged with aggravated involuntary DUI manslaughter. Her 5-year-old daughter, Jasmine Major, was killed in a single-vehicle accident on June 23, 2007 when they were headed toward Danville. Jasmine Major was pronounced dead at the scene, Haskins said.
Major is out on bond.
Original story:
From staff reports
DANVILLE — Five-year-old Jasmine Saige Major of Danville is dead and Monica Leigh Major is in stable condition following a single-vehicle crash at 10:28 p.m. Saturday in Ringgold.
According to the Virginia State Police, the child was a passenger in a Ford Explorer being driven by Monica Leigh Major at the time of the accident. Jasmine was not wearing a seat belt.
Emergency personnel held up sheets to block the scene as victims were extricated from the wreck. A Life Flight helicopter was summoned and landed across from Auto Outlet USA near the scene. Monica Leigh Major was transported by helicopter to Duke University Medical Center, where Duke officials say she remains in stable condition.
According to a report filed by Virginia State Trooper J.L. Altice, the wreck occurred on U.S. 58 in the westbound lane east of Route 985 across from Auto Outlet USA in Pittsylvania County.
The vehicle ran off the right side of the road, struck a guard-rail, went airborne for 200 to 300 feet before striking an embankment and overturning. Officials haven’t released the reason for the vehicle running off the side of the road.
According to Jasmine’s obituary on page A4, she was a rising first-grader at Brosville Elementary School and a member of Providence Baptist Church, Providence, N.C.
Reader Reactions
This woman has paid the price, the life of her daughter. I hope that the judge will consider this and let her go. This woman made a mistake and it cost her. I don’t believe she should go to jail.
I did not read the original article. If that was the first sentence that was put in the paper. I want to let the person that wrote the story know that it was very disrespectful to my daughter and our family. Instead of being so blunt about her death, it could have been written differently.
Jasmine’s last name was Major-GIBSON, as listed on her obituary over a year ago.
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