Parents Indicted for Death of 3-Year-Old in West Union Car Accident

July 19, 2010 - West Union - Two parents have been indicted by the Doddridge County grand jury, both on counts of child abuse resulting in death.

On November 18, 2009, Becca Kay Bennet, 3, was killed in a car accident on U.S. Route 50 East. The driver, Phillip Eakle, 20, of West Union, was driving the car when it flipped.

WBOY reports that sheriff's deputies allege Becca Kay was riding unrestrained at the time of the accident. Deputies have also said that Eakle did not have a valid driver's license at the time of the accident.

Eakle has been indicted as a result of his reckless behavior leading up to the child's death. Amanda Bennet of Clarksburg, the girl's mother, is also being charged because she allowed her child to ride in the car with Eakle without being properly secured in a car seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's 2008 West Virginia Crash Statistics show that there were 380 fatalities as a result of car accidents in West Virginia.

In an effort to raise awareness of common factors in serious and fatal car accidents in West Virginia, our firm routinely publishes news items about traffic crashes in our region.

Common West Virginia accidents include, but are not limited to:

 

• single-car crashes;
• tractor-trailer accidents;
• accidents caused by hazardous road conditions; and
• distracted driver crashes.

 

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