Loose Trailer In Pell City

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St. Clair Times, The (Pell City, AL)

January 25, 2008

Section: Front Page

Court case continued for death of woman hit by barge
Author: David Atchison

Article Text:

A case involving a Pell City man facing a two-count indictment for manslaughter and homicide by vehicle of a Cropwell woman was continued last Friday.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Judge Charles Robinson granted a joint motion by the prosecution and defense to continue the state's case against Blake Alan Brown, 23, of Stewart Road, Pell City.

Brown is accused of recklessly causing the April 18, 2007, death of Rosea Mae Beavers, 57, of Cropwell.

Beavers was killed when the Ford Focus she was driving was struck by a runaway towable barge. The accident happened along U.S. 231, near the CVS Pharmacy.

According to The Daily Home news account of the accident, Beavers had just turned out of the CVS parking lot, heading south along U.S. 231, when the barge Brown was towing came loose from his vehicle, crossed the highway and struck her vehicle.

A Lifesaver helicopter was called to the scene and landed at Avondale Park along U.S. 78, but Beavers died while being transported by ambulance to the landing site.

In June 2007, Brown told The Daily Home the incident was just a horrible accident.

"If I could take it back, I would," he said.

Brown said he doesn't know why his trailer came loose from his truck.

"I've been driving the same setup for two years," he said, adding that he's been towing trailers since he was 15.

"I wasn't on drugs or driving carelessly," Brown said.

Brown said he was driving below the speed limit when the trailer came lose.

"I was slowing down for the light," he said.

Brown said he hit a bad dip along U.S. 231, which could have caused the trailer to come loose and snap the safety chain.

"That's all I could think of," he said.

Brown has remained out of jail since his arrest in June, after posting a $15,000 bond.

Brown is expected to appear back in court in April.

St. Clair County District Attorney Richard Minor said manslaughter is a Class B felony and carries a two- to 20-year sentence. Homicide by vehicle is a felony and carries a prison term of one to five years and a fine of $500-2,000.

Memo:
About David Atchison

David Atchison is a staff writer for The St. Clair Times.

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datchison@dailyhome.com
Copyright, 2008, The St. Clair Times, Consolidated Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.
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