A Chantilly man has been fined $300 for driving so recklessly last fall that he struck and injured an Oak Hill woman with his car. He is Thomas Powers, 49, of 3263 Kinross Circle in Chantilly Highlands.
The accident occurred Sept. 4, around 8:30 p.m., on Franklin Farm road in the Franklin Farm community. Amarjit Basra, 39, and her daughter, 15, both of Oak Hill, were in a marked crosswalk and were trying to cross Franklin Farm Road at its intersection with Old Daily Court.
According to Fairfax County police, the daughter noticed a vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed, warned her mother and safely ran across the intersection to the other side. Basra, however, was struck by the vehicle, a 1997 Toyota Camry, and was Medevaced to Inova Fairfax Hospital.
She sustained a skull fracture, broken left femur, pelvic fracture and internal injuries. She was initially admitted to the hospital in critical condition, but her condition was later upgraded. Police charged Powers with driving while intoxicated; however, when he appeared Jan. 31 in Traffic Court, the charge was reduced to reckless driving.
Judge Donald McDonough then sentenced Powers to 30 days in jail, suspending all that time and placing him on six months probation. He also fined Powers $300 and suspended his driver's license for six months. In addition, McDonough ordered him to enter and complete ASAP (Alcohol Safety Action Program).
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs