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Charges filed in motorcycle fatality

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: November 25, 2009

LENOIR - Lenoir police arrested a woman on Monday in connection with a car wreck in October that left one person dead.

Kimberly June Prestwood, 39, of Lenoir, was charged with one count each of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failing to yield the right of way.

On Oct. 22, Prestwood was driving a Dodge van west on Wilkesboro Boulevard (also known as N.C. 18) at about 7:45 p.m., when she turned left in front of a Kawasaki motorcycle, which was coming the opposite direction. The motorcycle was driven by Jessica Emily Ormand, 36, of Lenoir. Prestwood was making a left turn from Wilkesboro Boulevard into the parking lot of Lenoir Crossings, and failed to yield the right of way to Ormand, according to police reports.

Ormand was ejected from her motorcycle because of the crash. She was transported to Caldwell Memorial Hospital. However, due to the injuries she received in the crash, Ormand died at the hospital.

Master Patrol Officer Marcus Hartley of the Lenoir Police Department said the accident happened in front of Taco Bell.

"The restaurant's surveillance camera captured the parking lot and the roadway on camera, and it cleared up a lot of unknowns for us," he said.

Hartley said part of the delay in pressing charges against Prestwood was getting the surveillance footage onto a disk. Hartley said the police department ultimately had to contact the surveillance company in California to obtain it.

He also met with the district attorney's office to discuss the charges, to ensure he had all the information needed to press charges. Hartley said to be charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, you must show that the cause of death is the crash itself.

Hartley said the intersection where Prestwood and Ormand's accident occurred often has accidents.
"We have a lot of sideswipes there because of the shopping center," he said.

Prestwood was released on a written promise to appear in District Court on Dec. 17. Hartley said if Prestwood is convicted of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, she could be facing a two-year suspension of her license and probation.