Two charged in wreck that killed young couple, unborn child
Multiple charges have been filed in the Sunday evening motorcycle crash in Jasper County that killed a Mount Ayr man and his pregnant wife.
Lucia Gonzalez, 16, of Fair Oaks, was driving the van that crashed into the motorcycle. She was cited Thursday for failure to yield and operating a vehicle with no registration or plates, according to a news release issued by the Sheriff's Department.
Gonzalez's mother, Teresa Salinas, 35, of Fair Oaks, was a passenger in the van along with two minor children. Salinas was arrested and charged Thursday with neglect of a dependent, according to the Sheriff's Department. Neither of the children wore seat belts at the time of the accident, police said, prompting the neglect charges.
A mechanical search warrant was issued on the van, which determined no one inside was wearing a seat belt and the front brakes were faulty.
The accident occurred about 5 p.m. at Ind. 14 and County Road 1000 West near the town of Parr, just northwest of Rensselaer.
William A. Schneegas, 20, and his 16-year-old wife, Kayla, were killed in the accident.
Police said the motorcycle was one of three traveling together westbound on Ind. 14. At the intersection of County Road 1000 West, Ind. 14 makes a 90-degree turn to the south.
A 1997 Chevrolet van being driven by Gonzalez was traveling north on Ind. 14 and failed to yield to the motorcycle being driven by William Schneegas, police said.
Gonzalez allegedly told police she tried to avoid the motorcycles, but struck the third motorcycle.
The force of the impact threw Kayla Schneegas from the motorcycle over the van and onto the roadway, police said. The van then ran over William Schneegas and the motorcycle.
Kayla Schneegas was in the third trimester of her pregnancy, police said. Her unborn child also died.
All of the passengers in the van complained of pain and were taken to Jasper County Hospital, where they were released after treatment.
Posted in Local on Saturday, November 8, 2008 12:00 am Updated: 12:32 am.
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