3 adults charged in ATV accident that killed 2 Rosman High football players
State law enforcement confirmed the arrests of three Transylvania County adults for their role in the deaths of two Roseman High School students, juniors Jayden Reynaldo and Layne Jones, in an ATV accident last August.
The two teenagers were driving on Old Wagon Road around 1 a.m. Aug. 25 when they ran off the road, struck a tree and were ejected from the vehicle. Both students were pronounced dead at the scene, the Citizen Times previously reported. At the time, North Carolina Highway Patrol believed excessive speed was the cause of the accident. Months later, law enforcement now believe alcohol to be a factor, according to Special Agent Antwan Happoldt.
Ashley Marie Darity, 34, of Rosman, was arrested by North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement special agents and charged with two counts of felony involuntary manslaughter, Happoldt told the Citizen Times. Darity was indicted on the charges in Transylvania Superior Court on Feb. 11, records show. State law enforcement officials have not confirmed what involvement Darity had in the deaths that led to the charges, though asked by the Citizen Times. Court records list Darity's date of offense as Aug. 24, the day before the accident.
Brandon Kaine Rathbone, 47, and Patricia Faye Whitehead, 33, both of Balsam Grove, were also arrested in connection to the accident, Happoldt said. Both were arrested on Aug. 13 for aiding and abetting a person less than 21 years of age in the possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages, their arrest warrants state.
According to his arrest warrant, Rathbone held an underage house party and purchased a malt beverage in part for a 15-year-old. Both Rathbone and Whitehead "held the juvenile up to assist (them) in doing a keg stand," according to the warrant. Whitehead is also accused of purchasing Twisted Tea, an alcoholic iced tea, for the underage teens.
North Carolina ALE Special Agents often work with N.C. State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies investigating vehicle collisions that result in the personal injury or death of people under the age of 21 when alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident.
This is an on-going investigation, Happoldt said.
More: Two Rosman High School students die in weekend accident in Transylvania County
Transylvania County Schools released a news release about the death of the two Rosman students on the afternoon of Aug. 25. Both played on the school's football team.
"It is with heavy hearts that we share the tragic news of losing two of our beloved Rosman High School students in a devastating accident," the release said. "Our community has been struck by an unimaginable loss, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of these remarkable young individuals."
Many Western North Carolina high schools posted messages of support and condolences across social media on the Sunday after the accident for Rosman, including Andrews, Brevard, Cherokee, Erwin, Franklin, Hayesville, Madison, Mitchell, Murphy, North Henderson, North Buncombe, Owen, Roberson, Smoky Mountain, Swain County and West Henderson.
Five days after the death of the two players, the Rosman football team dedicated its game against North Henderson to them. The Tigers left Reynaldo and Jones' spots open on the field and let the play clock tick down to zero in their memory.
More: Rosman football honors teammates in first game after the two Tigers' deaths
This story will be updated.
Ryley Ober is the Public Safety Reporter for Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at rober@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter @ryleyober
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: 3 charged in ATV accident that killed 2 Rosman High football players
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Vandals accused of causing $48K in damage to Kalispell construction site
Jun. 4—A 23-year-old man accused of causing about $48,000 in damages while commandeering heavy machinery at a Kalispell construction site also allegedly bought beer and tobacco for his underage companions. Prosecutors brought Matthew James White up on a felony criminal mischief charge and a misdemeanor count of unlawful transaction with children in Flathead County District Court following a May 21 incident near Kidsport Complex. White, who remains in the county jail with bail set at $50,000, is expected to appear before Judge Paul Sullivan on June 12 for his arraignment. Kalispell Police officers came across White after an employee of an excavation firm reported seeing people using machinery at a construction site about 1:30 a.m., according to court documents. Responding to the area around the intersection of Northland and Four Mile drives, authorities found a running excavator. Aided by a neighbor, who shouted "one went that way" while pointing west, officers found White. They also discovered a 14-year-old hiding under a barbecue cover left in the backyard of a nearby home, court documents said. The teenager told investigators that White and another minor had picked him up earlier in the night. The trio stopped at a gas station where White allegedly bought a 30-pack of Busch Light Apple, an 18 pack of Twisted Tea, two packs of cigarettes and two packs of ZYN nicotine pouches for the group. Together they drove around Kalispell before eventually arriving at the construction site, the teenager told officers. They began drinking and taking turns operating the machinery, he said. Eventually White and the other minor used the excavator to destroy pipes stored at the site, according to court documents. When one member spotted headlights, they fled, the teenager told investigators. The teenager also provided officers with a breath sample, which came in at 0.059, according to court documents. The construction site manager later estimated that the damage to the project came in at about $48,000. If convicted of felony criminal mischief, White faces up to 10 years in Montana State Prison and a fine of $50,000. Misdemeanor unlawful transaction with children is punishable by a $500 fine and a maximum sentence of six months in the county jail. News Editor Derrick Perkins can be reached at 758-4430 or dperkins@
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Yahoo
Hearing moved to July for driver charged in crash that killed Bakersfield married couple
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A preliminary hearing was postponed to mid-July in the case of a woman accused of driving drunk and hitting a rideshare vehicle, killing a married couple. Paul Brar, the attorney representing Anabell Aleyna Correa, was granted the postponement Monday after telling the court he has a trial starting in Los Angeles that would conflict with the previously scheduled June 9 date. The hearing is now set for July 16. Suspected drunken driver in SW Bakersfield crash that killed married couple admitted to drinking: search warrant Correa, 21, is facing two counts of second-degree murder, among other charges. She's accused of driving drunk early March 16 and running a red light, colliding with a rideshare vehicle carrying Max Austin Mooney and Desiree Paula Noelle Mooney, both 30. Max Mooney died at the scene. Desiree Mooney was pronounced dead at Kern Medical. Correa had a blood-alcohol content of 0.088%, above the legal limit of 0.08%, according to a court filing. She showed signs of being intoxicated — including slurred speech and bloodshot eyes — and told police she drank two 24-ounce cans of Twisted Tea, which contains alcohol, the filing says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Yahoo
Possible plea agreement in multiple 2024 vehicular offenses
EAU CLAIRE — A Chippewa Falls man whom authorities accuse of causing a crash as he attempted to speed away from a sheriff's deputy may see the case end in a plea agreement. Cameron Bosire, 18, faces charges of first degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee or elude an officer, possession of THC and bail jumping. All but the drug charge are felonies, though low-ranking ones on Wisconsin's scale. A status conference Wednesday saw Bosire's attorney tell the court the two sides are 'close to an agreement to resolve all matters.' He requested an additional status conference, which the court set for June 13. The reference to resolution for 'all matters' is significant. Bosire faces multiple cases in Eau Claire County, all filed last year. The first case charged Bosire with second degree recklessly endangering safety, a Class G felony. Authorities filed it in April 2024. The above mentioned case came next, in June 2024, and it carries the most serious charges. Two more cases were filed in September 2024. The first is a single charge of bail jumping, while the final case includes charges of bail jumping, misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct. According to the criminal complaint in the most serious case, a deputy spotted a vehicle going 74 mph in a 40 mph zone on Hastings Way. When it reached a section with a speed limit of 50, the Bosire accelerated to 84 mph. Bosire did not pull over when the deputy tried to stop him. He left Hastings Way at North Crossing, striking a pickup in the intersection. Two people in the pickup were injured. The deputy found an open Twisted Tea in Bosire's vehicle, along with marijuana. That incident followed an April case in which investigators say Bosire was texting and calling a woman repeatedly because he objected to her being at a party. He eventually showed up, repeatedly honking his car's horn outside. The woman told Bosire the party had been warned about noise and asked him to leave. He turned the car toward her and accelerated. Witnesses said he missed her and a neighbor who came out to ask him to quit honking the horn 'by inches.' He threw out two empty Twisted Tea cans when he drove off. Investigators contacted Bosire at his home, and he claimed to have been asleep. He denied being anywhere near the party. But his vehicle had damage consistent with witness reports of him hitting a tree. He couldn't explain that or debris on the car's tires consistent with jumping the curb.
