About one hundred miles southwest of Loudoun County is central Virginia’s Albemarle County, home to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. It’s also home to prominent journalist and author, Donovan James Webster who was recently involved in a U.S. 250 car crash that left a Waynesboro man dead.
Webster was being held without bail afterwards, charged with driving under the influence. An assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney said the writer could face additional criminal charges after an investigation.
The crash involved two cars and a tractor-trailer, according to a number of news sources. Law enforcement officials declined to reveal details of the crash or any theories on how the wreck occurred.
The 75-year-old Waynesboro man killed in the crash was described in his obituary as a religious man who had a “lifelong love of farming.”
Webster is author of “The Burma Road: The Epic Story of the China-Burma-India Theater in World War II” and “Aftermath: The Remnants of War.” A former editor of Outside magazine, he has also been the subject of a pair of documentaries.
No matter how well-spoken or well-known a person might be, following an accident that might include charges of vehicular homicide, it makes sense to decline to speak with law enforcement officials until you have a chance to sit down and discuss matters with an experienced criminal defense attorney. While some people find the temptation to tell their side of the story too powerful to ignore, the reality is that they can unwittingly harm their defense with misstatements or inaccurate comments.
Source: The News & Advance, “Distinguished writing career preceded recent Albemarle DUI,” August 18, 2014