State wraps up case in crash that killed 6

Kim Smith

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001 | 11:43 a.m.

The state wrapped up its case against Jessica Williams this morning with the testimony of an accident reconstructionist who gave two possible reasons why Williams' van went off Interstate 15 and struck and killed six teenagers.

William Morrison said that because Williams' van left the road at a "shallow" angle of three degrees, she could have been asleep or simply not paying attention.

Morrison was the last of 28 witnesses called to the stand by prosecutors in the Williams case.

The 21-year-old is accused of drifting off the freeway north of Las Vegas on March 19 and striking and killing the teenagers as they were picking up trash in the median as punishment for minor crimes.

Those killed were Malena Stoltzfus, Jennifer Booth, Rebeccah Glicken, Scott Garner Jr., Anthony Smith and Alberto Puig.

Prosecutors allege Williams had marijuana and Ecstasy in her system, but her attorney maintains she simply fell asleep.

Wednesday was the third day of the trial. Among those who testified were a forensic toxicologist and a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper who investigated the accident and drew a diagram depicting it.

Jurors can acquit Williams or find her guilty of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of a prohibited substance, reckless driving or involuntary manslaughter.

In order to convict her of the controlled substance charge, the jury would have to believe she was impaired by the drugs -- something her attorney John Watkins believes is scientifically impossible to prove.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker contends the jury can convict Williams under the prohibited substance section of the DUI statute, which doesn't address impairment. It simply states that those with certain levels of marijuana in their system are considered to be driving under the influence.

Toxicologist Ray Kelly told jurors Wednesday that he believes Williams' drowsiness was caused by a combination of factors. She had been up more than 24 hours, she had smoked marijuana, a sedative, two hours before the crash, and she was "coming down" from the effects of Ecstasy.

Although Ecstasy is a stimulant, the body eventually uses up all of its energy and the result is sleepiness, Kelly explained. Williams had taken a tablet of the drug about 12 hours before the accident.

Kelly also testified that while people who normally don't smoke marijuana no longer have evidence of the drug in their blood after two or three hours, Williams still had 5.5 nanograms of marijuana's active ingredient in her blood three hours after she said she smoked it.

That indicates to him that Williams had probably smoked marijuana within a few days of the crash as well, Kelly said.

A nanogram is a billionth of a gram, Kelly said.

Kelly stressed that the number of nanograms in a person's blood doesn't tell the whole story. Long after the active ingredient of marijuana has left the blood, it remains in other parts of the body, particularly the brain.

As a result, someone might well still be impaired, Kelly said.

Also testifying Wednesday was NHP Trooper Jon David.

David told jurors that the entire accident occurred within a matter of four to six seconds.

Williams drifted off the southbound lanes of I-15 at 75 miles per hour and traveled 219 feet before striking the first child. It wasn't until after all of the children were hit, David said, that it appeared as though Williams took any evasive measures.

As Williams struck the children, they hit the hood and windshield of the van in a "pancake-like" effect, then fell off the vehicle as she went into a broadside skid and came to a stop facing northbound, David said.

From the point Williams left the road until she came to a stop was 465 feet.

It appears as though the children were standing 14 to 15 feet from the roadway, David said.

Morrison's testimony didn't differ substantially from David's, although he said he thought the teens were 12 to 17 feet from the roadway.

Watkins is expected to call about 12 witnesses, and the trial is expected to wrap up next week.