Woman sentenced in moped death

By Jimmy LaRoue

Published: August 18, 2008

A woman involved in a July 4 traffic accident that killed a moped driver was given the maximum sentence in Waynesboro General District Court Monday.

Nora Quezada, driving without a Virginia driver’s license, received a 180-day jail sentence by Judge William D. Heatwole, citing the serious nature of the incident and that she was in the United States illegally.

Quezada, listed on the accident report as living at 38 Brandon Ladd Circle in Waynesboro, was heading north on North Delphine Avenue when a 2004 Yamaha moped driven by James Michael Baber, 50, turned south on North Delphine from Sixth Street and into the path of Quesada’s vehicle, a 2000 Ford Windstar around 10 p.m. on July 4.

Baber was taken first to Augusta Medical Center in Fishersville and then airlifted to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, where he later died from his injuries.

Neither Quezada nor the two children in the vehicle with her, suffered injuries as a result of the accident. She was not charged with any additional offenses related to the accident.

At the time of the accident, Quezada was driving 30 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to the police crash report.

Initially, police said Baber had suffered a severe head injury. However, Baber’s death certificate says the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma. According to medical reports from Augusta Medical Center and U.Va., Baber, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, suffered severe injuries to his aorta, liver, pancreas, spleen and esophagus, but no injuries to his head.

At the time of the accident, Waynesboro police said there was nothing at the accident scene to suggest alcohol had played a factor in the crash.

Baber’s sister, Debbie Arnold, as well as other members of his family, showed up in court.

Following the hearing, Arnold expressed mixed feelings with the outcome, but said something needs to be done with people in the U.S. illegally.

“It has very much devastated us,” Arnold said.

She also said that while Baber didn’t suffer any head injuries, she’s pleased that the Waynesboro City Council passed a helmet ordinance.