Driver in fatal Culpeper wreck gets prison sentence
Tow-truck driver gets 27 months in jail
BY DONNIE JOHNSTON
Date published: 4/2/2009
BY DONNIE JOHNSTON
The driver of a tow truck that ran a red light, struck a pickup and killed two King George County residents in 2007 will serve more than two years in jail.
Alvin R. Thompson was sentenced to 10 years in prison in connection with the Culpeper County wreck, but Circuit Judge Jack Berry suspended all but 27 months.
Thompson had been convicted of two counts of manslaughter and one count of wounding in the commission of a felony.
The collision occurred about 2 p.m. Sept. 1, 2007, at an intersection on U.S. 29 at Brandy Station. Thompson was driving a 2006 commercial tow truck pulling an International Harvester box truck when he struck a 2003 GMC pickup driven by Joshua Burke.
Witnesses testified that Burke's vehicle was turning left across U.S. 29 from Alanthus Road when it was hit. It was the second vehicle to exit Alanthus Road and had a green turn signal.
Both Burke and his wife, Ashley, were killed in the crash and a third person in the vehicle, John Lizotte, was thrown from the truck and seriously injured.
Commonwealth's Attorney Gary Close argued for more jail time for Thompson, saying it would "serve as a wake-up call for the importance of emphasizing and enforcing safety on our public highways."
Thompson will be placed on supervised probation for two years after his release, and Berry mandated a five-year period requiring good behavior.
Donnie Johnston: Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com
Read more stories about Culpeper
Date published: 4/2/2009
Most recent reader comments:
Name dosn't matter
(posted by
peachesmom
, Apr. 2, 2009 5:41 pm)  
It does not matter what the victims names are really what matters is they lost their lives to someone elses stupidity and he will spend little time in jail for taking those lives. It is our judicial system that sucks.
And..
(posted by
Kimberlina
, Apr. 2, 2009 2:11 pm)  
You may think the FLS sucks; however, you're still reading it aren't you? And people are human and make mistakes, they will correct the issue when given the correct information. I hope you have a wonderful day! :0)
Free lance star sucks.
(posted by
kgvip2006
, Apr. 2, 2009 8:38 am)  
this poor has had to deal with 2 errors in one week.
Tori Burke was Gene Gouldmans GRAND-Daughter not
daughter.
And listed above.... Joshua Burkes wife was not named
ASHLEY but Tori. Free Lance star sucks.
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