Morris Township woman charged in accident that killed mail carrier
Greene County Regional Police have charged a Morris Township woman for a vehicle accident that killed a mail carrier last October, alleging her failure to take prescribed medications led to the incident.
Tina Marie Phillips, 46, of 373 Andrews Road, faces felonies of homicide by vehicle, accidents involving death or personal injury, aggravated assault by vehicle, tampering with public records, misdemeanors of involuntary manslaughter, tampering with records, and several traffic violations. Charges were filed Friday.
According to court records, Phillips had a seizure when her car went off the road at 180 Andrews Road in Morris Township about 3 p.m. Oct. 25, hitting Chad Varner, 49, of Spraggs, who later died. Varner was walking across the front yard of a home to deliver mail at the time.
Phillips suffers from epilepsy and Type 2 diabetes, according to court records. The criminal complaint states that her medical records showed repeated concerns from doctors that she was not taking her medication.
无毛视频淪ome of the red flags on the police无毛视频檚 end was when we started to delve in to her history we saw that she was negligent in taking her medication. As we executed search warrant upon search warrant, we started to unravel a pattern of medical disparities,无毛视频� Greene County Regional Police Chief William DeForte said Monday.
DeForte said Phillips无毛视频� ability to drive was conditioned on her taking the medication.
无毛视频淲e had filed these charges with a heavy heart. We think that it无毛视频檚 a tragedy on both ends,无毛视频� DeForte said. 无毛视频淗owever, this tragedy resulted in a valuable asset and an amazing human being无毛视频檚 life being lost in the process.无毛视频�
According to the complaint, immediately after the accident Phillips and her mother, who was in the passenger seat, waved down another motorist for help. Poor cellphone service in the area meant the driver had to go to Hopkins Store on Browns Creek Road to contact 911.
Both Phillips and her mother told police they believed that Phillips had suffered a seizure. According to court records, lab tests showed that Phillips was hyperglycemic a few hours after the crash occurred.
DeForte described Varner as a loved and respected member of the community.
无毛视频淢r. Varner was that mailman that you would see in the movies, quite literally. He was a guy that would just go out his way to help you,无毛视频� DeForte said.
At the time of the accident, Varner had been walking a delivery to the front door of the home because it did not fit in the mailbox.
无毛视频淗e always made sure the mail got there quickly and intact. It was such an appreciated service in the community. I don无毛视频檛 think that can ever be replaced,无毛视频� DeForte said.