Correctional officer charged in crash that killed 10-year-old Albemarle girl

ALBEMARLE, N.C. — A 10-year-old girl was killed last week when the car she was riding in was struck by a Department of Public Safety van from the Ablemarle Correctional Institute in Albemarle, police said.

Jimmy Ross Snavely, a North Carolina Correctional Officer who was driving the Department of Public Safety van, was arrested and charged on a citation with careless and reckless driving, exceeding the posted speed limit, passing on a double yellow line and misdemeanor death by vehicle on a warrant.

Around 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 31, officers were called to a three-vehicle crash on Anderson Grove Church Road near Sunview Lane.

The girl's 18-year-old brother was driving a Honda Accord when it collided with the van from Albemarle Correctional Institution. A Mitsubishi Galant was also involved in the wreck.

(Jimmy Ross Snavely)

Bennie Wayne Greene rushed outside his home when he heard the crash, but there was nothing he could do to help the teen driver.

"That tore my nerves up because seeing him screaming so badly," Greene said. "He couldn't feel his legs and all, begging me to help him and I couldn't help him, and you don't know what that does to somebody."

Paramedics flew the 18-year-old to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, but his sister, whose name hasn't been released, died before they could get her to the hospital.

"She's just beginning to be, just a young'un. Her life's gone," Greene said.

The deadly crash happened less than 2 miles from the little girl's school, East Albemarle Elementary School. Classmates and staff painted the spirit rock and placed balloons outside the school on Wednesday.

The state worker driving the prison van was the only person in the van at the time of the crash, and he was not seriously hurt.

The Department of Public Safety released a statement on the crash:

The Department of Public Safety is extending its condolences to the family of the deceased child. Our prayers are with her family and our employee. We are fully cooperating with the Albemarle Police Department and will continue to do so until the investigation is complete. The department will also conduct its own internal investigation.

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