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May 12, 2007

DUI suspected in fatal wreck

By Evan Belanger

A Blountsville man who allegedly killed a 17-year-old mother of one in a 2005 vehicle accident ran a red light and was operating under the influence of a controlled substance, according to court documents.

Raymond Edward Neal Jr., 37, of Blountsville is pleading not guilty to charges of vehicular homicide, criminally negligent homicide, manslaughter and three counts of second-degree assault in connection with a Feb. 5, 2005 vehicle crash that resulted in the death of Ashley Arnold, 17, of Cullman.

According to court documents, Arnold suffered fatal injuries when her 1993 Saturn was struck broadside by Neal’s 2001 Nissan at the intersection of Alabama highways 69 and 157.

The mother of an 8-month-old baby, Arnold was pronounced dead on the scene by Coroner Gary Murphree.

“Apparently, she was just going to the store,” he said. “It’s just one of those tragic things that can happen.”

Neal was indicted by the Cullman County Grand Jury Oct. 2, and arrested six days later. He has since been released on a $30,000 property bond.

His case is listed on the court docket for a jury trial Monday before Circuit Judge Don Hardeman. If convicted on all six felony counts, Neal could be sentenced to more than 100 years in prison.

In addition to Arnold, a passenger in her vehicle, Steven Ray Thompson, 28, of Holly Pond, suffered serious injuries in the accident. He was airlifted from the scene to Huntsville Hospital, where he underwent more than eight hours of surgery to repair various facial fractures, according to family members.

According to trooper reports, a third person, Riley Mills, 58, of Joppa, also suffered injuries in the accident. He was transported along with Neal to Cullman Regional Medical Center for treatment.

A passenger in Mill’s vehicle, Teresa Mills, also suffered mild injuries, according to court documents.

It was not clear Wednesday if the district attorney’s office will be ready to prosecute the case by Monday. The trial has already been continued once this year, originally scheduled for trial during the week of March 19.

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