A local woman died on Thursday, April 19, following a two-vehicle collision on Main Street near the intersection with Young Street. Jerus Helen Neal, 54, was pronounced dead by Wayne County Coroner Forrest Hicks at the Wayne County Hospital.

The accident occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m. Thursday and was near the Monticello Police Department. Local officials contacted Kentucky State Police a few minutes later requesting assistance since the crash involved a local official, Assistant County Attorney Roderick Tejeda, 41.

According to a report issued by Kentucky State Police Detective Parrish Baker, who is also a traffic crash reconstructionist, Neal was driving a white 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier and was pulling from Young Street onto Main Street when she entered the path of Tejeda’s vehicle, a gray 2008 Toyota Camry. Tejeda was traveling north on Main Street.

The Toyota struck the Chevrolet in the driver’s side, according to the report.

Neal was transported to the hospital by Wayne County EMS, where she was pronounced dead at 10:11 a.m.

Tejeda was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries he sustained in the crash. According to KSP Trooper First Class Don Trosper, Tejeda left the hospital for a period of time, and officials are unsure if this was due to any injury he sustained in the crash.

He was later located and returned to the Wayne County Hospital to be examined for possible head injuries and for a blood test that is required of drivers involved in a total crash.

Trosper said the blood test was administered within a two or three hour window after the fatal crash.

He indicated that drug or alcohol use is not suspected at this time, pending lab results. Trosper indicated that it will take two to three weeks before lab results are received.

Tejeda was released from the hospital later that day, according to Trosper.

There were no passengers in either car, and both drivers were wearing seat belts, according to Baker.

When contacted last Monday by The Outlook, Wayne County Attorney Tom Simmons confirmed that Tejeda is no longer employed as an Assistant County Attorney.

The investigation is continuing. Baker was assisted by Monticello Police Department, the Monticello Fire Department, the Kentucky State Police, Operation UNITE, Wayne County EMS, and the Wayne County Coroner’s Office.

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The murder trial for a local man charged in connection with the death of his toddler son has been delayed and moved to another county, following a hearing held in Wayne Circuit Court on Tuesday, April 17.

The trial for Brian Daniels was scheduled to start two weeks ago, but his attorney, Mark Stanziano, filed a motion seeking a continuance because of a recent death in his family.

Circuit Judge Vernon Miniard, Jr. granted the continuance and set the new trial date for June 19.

Miniard also ruled that Daniels will be tried in Russell County.

Stanziano indicated during the hearing that a jury could not be seated locally for another recent murder trial, and since the Daniels case has garnered much more media attention it would likely hit the same roadblock when jury selection began in June.

Daniels is one of four people charged in connection with the death of his son, Kayden Branham, who drank drain cleaner that officers say was used to make methamphetamine.

The 20-month-old boy died in May 2009. Also charged with murder are James Hunt and Danny Kay Anderson II.

The three men are also charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, controlled substance endangerment to a child and engaging in organized crime.

Larry Branham, the boy’s grandfather, is charged with controlled substance endangerment to a child, complicity to manufacture methamphetamine and engaging in organized crime.

The original plan was for all four men to go on trial last fall, but the cases were severed following a hearing in September, with Daniels’ case scheduled to be tried first.

During last week’s hearing, Stanziano stated that a futile attempt to seat a jury in Wayne County could mean another delay in the trial.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Leveridge agreed that seating a local panel of jurors would be difficult.

Miniard agreed to go ahead and move the trial. The court has set aside June 19 and 20 and the following week for the trial.

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Wayne County Schools are pleased to announce that Wayne County Girls’ Basketball Coach Allen Burchett has accepted the full time post as head coach of the Lady Cardinals.

Burchett said he would like to thank the administration of the Wayne County School System for placing their faith and trust in him to be the head coach for the Wayne County girls’ basketball program.

“I am honored to follow in a long line of past coaches who have done such a wonderful job coaching our girls’ basketball teams,” said Coach Burchett.

Burchett has been serving as the interim coach since December 14, following the resignation of Coach Tim Pyles, who led the girls’ program to three state tournament appearances, eight district titles and three regional tournaments, making them formidable competitors in girls’ basketball athletics.

Coach Burchett is following this rich tradition, with his team completing the recent season with a winning record of 19-15, winning the 48th District Championship, and becoming a semi-finalist at the regional tournament.