×

Two facing misdemeanor charges in traffic cases

LISBON – Two Rogers women accused of vehicular homicide made appearances in Columbiana County Municipal Court on Tuesday.

A Feb. 19 pretrial was set for Ashley R. Clark, accused of vehicular homicide in the death of Melissa Gorby last March 12. Clark, 23, Peace Valley Road, Rogers, faces up to 180 days in jail if convicted of the first-degree misdemeanor. Bond was set at $5,000 recognizance.

It was the initial appearance for Clark, who acknowledged she received a copy of the grand jury indictment. Attorney Colleen Hall Dailey was appointed to defend Clark.

Clark had two people in the courtroom supporting her, but there was no family present at this hearing for Gorby, who died north of East Palestine on state Route 165 and 170.

Later that afternoon, a large group of Amanda R. Bibbee’s family appeared when Deborah K. Eells, 58, Dyke Road, had a pretrial hearing. A status conference was set in the case for Feb. 26, which may serve as a motion hearing. The case is set for trial on April 17.

Eells is accused in the death of Bibbee, 28, of East Liverpool who was killed in a head-on crash on state Route 7 north Rogers on April 12, 2012. The highway patrol said Bibbee’s minivan collided with an SUV driven by Eells. Bibbee was pronounced dead on the scene.

Both Prosecutor Don Humphrey and Eells defense attorney Michael McGee said a lot of information was shared prior to Tuesday’s hearing, and trooper Todd Jester, a reconstruction specialist with the highway patrol, also was there. Humphrey indicated additional information may be coming from the county coroner’s office. He also met with members of the family prior to the hearing.

“My sympathy goes to the family for a terrible loss,” said Judge Mark Frost. “Nothing that we do here will remove this loss.”

In both cases the evidence was already presented to the court grand jury, which determined the cases would proceed as first-degree misdemeanors.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.39/week.

Subscribe Today