Police briefs

Date published: 3/23/2008

Mineral man killed in Louisa car wreck

A 19-year-old Mineral resident was killed Friday night after a two-car crash on East Old Mountain Road in Louisa County.

Virginia State Police spokesman Tom Cunningham said Matthew Ryan Farmer was not wearing a seat belt. He died at the scene of the wreck, which occurred at about 5:50 p.m., Cunningham said.

Cunningham said a 1994 Dodge Neon driven by Terry R. Gum, 37, of Lynchburg crossed the center line on a curve on westbound East Old Mountain Road.

The Neon crashed head-on into Farmer's 1998 Honda Civic.

Gum and 11-year-old Cody Gum, a passenger in the vehicle, were flown to the University of Virginia Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

"It does not appear that alcohol or excessive speed are factors," Cunningham said.

Trooper T.J. Newberry is investigating the crash.

--Dan Telvock

Westmoreland pair sent to federal prison

Two Westmoreland County residents were sentenced to just over 11 years in federal prison for dealing crack cocaine.

Gerald Sylvester Wise, 51, and Crystal Alisa Williams, 32, were sentenced to 135 months in prison Thursday in U.S. district court in Richmond.

According to the evidence, the two were responsible for the distribution of between 500 grams and 1.5 kilograms during February and March of last year.

Police executed a search warrant at Wise's home at 2261 Nomini Grove Road on March 8 of last year.

--Keith Epps

Date published: 3/23/2008