Woman 'in and out of consciousness' charged with reckless murder in death of bystander pumpi
- Feb 2, 2016
- 2 min read
By Carol Robinson | crobinson@al.com The Birmingham News Email the author | Follow on Twitter on February 01, 2016 at 2:37 PM, updated February 01, 2016 at 3:16 PM
Jefferson County, AL
series /series Aka Story Package gallery-preview /gallery-preview Aka Secondary Package A Jefferson County woman is pleading not guilty by reason of insanity after authorities say she was high on heroin when she struck and killed another woman who was pumping gas at a Fultondale service station. Crystal Shea Reid, 33, has been jailed since December, court records show. She is charged with reckless murder in the July 2015 death of Donna Michelle Hankins.
Hankins, 44, was pumping gas just after 10:30 a.m. Jul 17 at the Murphy Express in the Lowe's parking lot on Walker Chapel Road. Nearby, a vehicle was stopped at an intersection with an unresponsive driver at the wheel, authorities said. Another motorist spotted the unresponsive woman in the vehicle, and went to check on her.
The driver, said Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates, woke up and then hastily tried to drive away. As she did, she hit another vehicle and then veered down an embankment and hit Hankins who was standing at the gas pump.
Hankins was taken to UAB Hospital where she was pronounced dead at 11:14 a.m. that day. The driver of the vehicle was also taken to UAB with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to court records, Reid was the driver of the vehicle that struck and killed Hankins. A Jefferson County grand jury in November indicted Reid in Hankins' death.
According to an affidavit in that case, Reid "did recklessly engage in conduct which manifested extreme indifference to human life and created a grave risk of death to another person." Court records say Reid was under the influence of a controlled substance and "going in and out of consciousness" when she struck and killed Hankins.
On Jan. 15, Reid waived her arraignment and entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Her next court hearing – a status update – is set for early April.
Records show Reid also was arrested in December for possession of drug paraphernalia. She was arrested on a publication intoxication charge in 2009 when lawmen found her standing in a roadway. Authorities reported a strong smell of alcohol, as well as bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. "She was a danger to herself as well as others,'' the deputy wrote in court records. That charge against Reid was later dismissed.
Reid has been jailed since Dec. 19 on the reckless murder charge. Her bond is set at $60,000. Her attorney, William Ralph Myers, said they are just now in the discovery process of the case and declined comment except to say they would provide Reid the best possible defense. "We extend our condolences to the family on their loss,'' Myers said.
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