Man to face jury trial for fatal wreck

By Tasha Kates, Media General News Service
Published: August 28, 2008

A Waynesboro truck driver involved in a wreck that killed an Albemarle teenager on U.S. 29 will face a jury early next year.
Kenneth Barbour, 54, appeared Thursday in Albemarle County Circuit Court to solidify who would be his attorney. Public Defender James Hingeley confirmed in court that he would represent Barbour, who requested a bench trial for his case.
However, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney John Zug requested a one-day jury trial, which was later scheduled for Feb. 11.
“We feel this is an appropriate case for the community to be involved with in regard to making the determination as to whether the defendant is innocent ... or guilty, and if they do find him guilty, that they decide the appropriate punishment,” Zug said.
Police have said that Barbour was driving a tractor-trailer May 9 for Don B. Swisher Trucking Corp. north on U.S. 29 when he failed to stop for a red light just after 7 a.m. and hit a 1999 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by 16-year-old Sydney Aichs.
Aichs, an Albemarle High School student, was making a left turn onto U.S. 29. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Zug said in court Thursday that there were three eyewitnesses to the wreck.
In June, a grand jury charged Barbour with involuntary manslaughter and reckless driving. Hingeley requested a trial date in 2009 to give him more time to prepare.
“It certainly is a complicated case ... at least from the defendant’s point of view,” Hingeley said in court.
Since the accident, the speed limit on U.S. 29 between Polo Grounds Road to Airport Road has been reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph. In late July, the Forest Lakes Community Association voted in favor of moving their entrance sign back from the intersection to improve visibility.
Tasha Kates is a staff writer at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville.