Bonne Terre man killed in North Carolina accident

A Bonne Terre area man was killed in an accident in North Carolina Sunday afternoon.

According to the News Observer in North Carolina, Donald Carl Reynard, 73, died, and his three passengers were seriously injured in Apex near Raleigh, North Carolina.

The other driver, 20-year-old Carla Romero, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and three counts of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill. She could spend more than 25 years in prison if convicted.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol told the News Observer that Romero was speeding, possibly driving at about 80 mph — about 35 miles above the speed limit. She lost control of the vehicle, crossed the centerline and struck Reynard’s vehicle.

The newspaper reported Romero’s bond is set at $1 million. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a hold on her, which means she could be in the country illegally. Romero’s attorney argued in court Monday afternoon that a mechanical malfunction caused the accident.

Calls to the Wake County District Attorney’s Office were not immediately returned.

In an unrelated accident, a Desloge woman was seriously injured Thursday when her 2000 Ford Mustang overturned in Jefferson County.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, Courtney M. Griffith, 21, was westbound on Route TT at 7:18 a.m. when she lost control of the vehicle. The Mustang went off the right side of the road and returned to the roadway. Griffith overcorrected, which caused the car to go off the right side of the road a second time, where it overturned, 1 mile east of Route T.

Griffith, who had not been wearing a seat belt, was taken by ambulance to Jefferson Memorial Regional Hospital.

Damage to the Mustang was listed as total.