Fatal Crash Charges Coming

A Noble man could face reckless homicide charges in addition to a felony DUI allegation from a head-on collision that claimed the life of Pamela Reed, 30, and her unborn son. The driver arrested for felony driving while intoxicated, Larry Rice, 24, remained hospitalized in Richland Memorial Hospital’s intensive care unit Monday night. His condition has been upgraded from critical to fair.

He allegedly was traveling in the wrong lane Sunday afternoon when his southbound car struck the Suburban truck driven by Richard Reed, 31, of Olney, on Ill 130 near Newton.

Rice had just forced a Jasper Co. Sheriff’s deputy off the road, according to Richland County Coroner, Susan Landis Bromm. The deputy had turned around to persue Rice and was about to activate his red lights when the head-on collision occurred at 2:40 p.m.

Bromm said Rice had told authorities he did not remember what happened.

Jasper County State’s Attorney, James Tomaw said the investigation continues. Because the dead woman was seven months’ pregnant, charges of reckless homicide involving her death plus the death of her unborn child could be lodged against Rice, Tomaw said.

Tomaw said Rice had just got out of the U.S. Marine Corps. Richard Reed was treated at Richland Memorial Hospital along with his 7-year-old daughter, Angela. But his 18-month old daughter, Marilyn remained in critical condition with head injuries. She was taken by helicopter to Welborn Baptist Hospital in Evansville, IN.

Also injured was Pamela Reed’s mother, Marilyn Kuykendall, 55 who was in serious condition after 8 hours surgery at Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Mo.

Herald & Review (Decatur, IL) – Tuesday, September 13, 1988

Pamela Jo Reed, 30, of Olney and her unborn son, Jason Wesley, died Sunday, September 11, 1988 in Richland Memorial Hospital as a result of an auto accident occurring two miles north of West Liberty on Illinois Route 130.

Burial in Crest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mrs. Reed was born September 29, 1957 in Brush, Colo. the daughter of Dean and Marilyn (Williams) Carter. She married Richard E. Reed July 3, 1975 and he survives.

She was a homemaker and a driver for Lanter Courier. She was a member of the Olney Christian Fellowship Church.

Surviving in addition to her husband, are two daughters, Angela and Marilyn Christine both at home; her father and step-mother, Dean and Faye Carter, Carmi; her mother and step-father, Marilyn and Roy Kuykendall, Olney; her mother-in-law, Patricia Reed, Olney; grandparents; and two sisters, Deana L. Carter, Colorado Springs, Colo. and Carrie L. May, Sterling, Ohio.

She was preceded in death by a son, Jeremy.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL)