Infant killed in car accident

Published 12:00 am Monday, April 2, 2007

SEVERN – A single vehicle crash has left an infant dead and a woman charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle here.

According to Highway Patrol Trooper T.D. Forsht of Troop C District 8, the one-month-old male infant was killed on Sunday afternoon when he was ejected from the car in which he was a passenger.

Trooper Forsht said the vehicle, driven by Laura Anne Murphy, 37, of Boykins, Va. was traveling north on Highway 35 near the Virginia border, just north of Severn.

The accident allegedly occurred when the right rear tire blew, sending the car off the right side of the road.

The 1993 Honda then hit a ditch and rolled two times, ejecting the infant through the left rear window of the vehicle.

The child was seated in the left back seat of the car behind the driver’s seat.

“It appeared the child was not properly restrained,” said Forsht.

According to Northampton County Rescue Squad Communication Director Ronnie Storey, Severn-Conway Volunteer Fire Department responded along with the Boykins (Va.) Fire Department.

Storey said the departments were dispatched to relieve Northampton County Rescue Squad, which had trucks out on different call at the time.

Two rescue helicopters were also dispatched to the scene.

Storey said the infant was airlifted to Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Va.

Two other passengers were injured, including the step-grandfather of the infant, James Stephenson, 38, of Murfreesboro and Latoria Powell, 21, of Boykins, Va.

Stephenson and Powell were seated in right side of the vehicle at the time of the crash; Stephenson in the front seat and Powell in the back.

Murphy was also injured in the crash.

It is not known what their medical conditions are at this time.

Forsht said Murphy was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, child restraint violation, unsafe tires and displaying a revoked license plate.

Forsht said Stephenson, who owned the vehicle, was also charged for permitting the use of a motor vehicle without insurance.