SHAFFER ON TRIAL FOR NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE - Charged In Death Of Rodney Wagoner

(12/08/2002)
A Normantown man will go on trial in Calhoun magistrate's court this month, related to the vehicular death of Rodney D. Wagoner, 44, of Big Bend on March 24, 2002.

Melvin H. Shaffer Jr., about 18, has been charged with negligent homicide, passing in a no passing zone and reckless driving.

The accident was described as one of the worst head-on crashes in the county in recent memory.

The jury trial is scheduled before Magistrate Rick Postalwait's court starting at 9 a.m. on Wednesday (12/18/02).

The Shaffer truck reportedly went left of center while passing vehicles, west of Big Bend on Route 5, striking a truck driven by Brian Wagoner, about 20, who was critically injured. His father, a passenger, was dead on the scene.

Brian Wagoner has since recovered.

Grantsville VFD Chief Dave Johnson said his department used both Jaws of Life to extract the victims, an unusual event.