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December 4, 2009

Warrant issued in negligent homicide

By BOB GIBBINS



An arrest warrant was issued Thursday afternoon for a Locust Grove man charged with negligent homicide after a fatal crash in Cherokee County in August.

Oran John Spencer, 54, was charged with the misdemeanor offense stemming from a Aug. 4 crash on State Highway 82 near Killabrew Road.

The crash injured Vanessa Sunday, who was pregnant. As a result of the crash, Sunday gave birth to an infant child, who died Aug. 6.

A report filed with the charges states Spencer was driving a 1998 Lincoln Town Car that collided with a 1999 Oldsmobile Alero driven by Michael Foutch. Sunday, Foutch’s fiancée, was a front seat passenger, and Jordan Russell, Sunday’s 2-year-old daughter, was in the back seat.

The report also states Spencer was headed north and ran off the road to the east. He hit a culvert and veered back on the roadway before going left of center. Spencer hit Foutch in the lane in which Foutch was driving.

Spencer and the 2-year-old were transported to St. Francis Hospital.

The toddler was paralyzed from the waist-down.

Foutch and Sunday were flown to St. John’s with serious injuries. Sunday was 30 weeks’ pregnant at the time, reports state.

Negligent homicide is punishable by imprisonment for up to a year and/or a fine of $100 to $1,000. An arrest warrant signed by Special District Judge Sandy Crosslin has a $10,000 bond set for Spencer.

Assistant District Attorney David Pierce is prosecuting the case.

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