Robin Stansfield is found guilty by an Alamance County judge in the tragic accident that killed four people along University Drive in Elon back in July.
It was a difficult verdict for Judge Wayne Abernathy, considering the fact that the district attorney had trouble proving, considering apparent the lack of aggravating circumstances:
District Attorney Rob Johnson had argued that the underlying traffic violation Stanfield committed was failing to decrease her speed to avoid colliding with the pedestrians and vehicles that were on the side of the road.
Defense attorney Clay Hemric, on the other hand, argued that the prosecution did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Stanfield had done so.
….Stanfield, who police said was traveling approximately the posted speed limit of 55 mph, lost control of her 2006 Isuzu Ascender, hitting the Cougar and starting a chain reaction that ended with the Isuzu flipping in the air and landing on top of Mildred Isley.
All, except Larry Isley Jr., were killed. He suffered broken ribs.
Stanfield told police later that she didn’t know if something on the road or a tire failure was responsible for her losing control. She doesn’t remember what happened after that. She was not talking on her cell phone or manipulating the radio when the accident happened, she told authorities.
Stansfield received four suspended sentences, five probation and was ordered to pay $1,200 restitution for each victim.
