INDEPENDENCE, Mo -
Jackson County prosecutors have charged a 19-year-old Blue Springs man with involuntary manslaughter for a drunk-driving death on Halloween Night, dressed as a character from the movie "Night of a Thousand Corpses."
Kenneth Scott Blake II has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of 16-year-old Laura Reynolds.
Fort Osage High School should be celebrating Monday. Their football team just completed its first undefeated season in school history. Instead, the student body is mourning the loss of a young life cut short.
Friday was a huge day for Laura Reynolds. The 16-year-old clarinet player competed with the high school band in Columbia that morning. That night she performed in the marching band for the school's final regular season completing the team's perfect record.
Twenty-four hours later she died in the intersection of Davis Road and Highway 24. Blake was charged on Monday with involuntary manslaughter with a blood alcohol content of at least .18 percent.
Reynolds and two girlfriends were driving home when police said Blake was heading the wrong way and crashed into them. Police think he had been drinking.
"It was a tough weekend for us here at Fort Osage," said Stephanie Smith, with the Fort Osage School District.
Smith said teachers greeted students with a somber account of what happened.
"And then we offered counseling and just listening and talking for those who needed that kind of assistance. We're also encouraging students to write or draw whether it's pictures, memories, something that helps them feel better," Smith said.
Reynold's pastor, Fred Young, said she was the youngest of three kids in a family that had already seen tragedy. He said her father had been killed in a motorcycle accident years ago when Laura was very young.
"Shy but very sweet, just an incredibly sweet girl," said Pastor Young.
Friends and family of Reynolds are invited to a vigil held on Monday night at the Eastside Baptist Church in Independence at 6:30.
"An incredible tragedy, but once again a loving family supportive of one another, good support system," said Pastor Young. "Certainly hope that one of the positives that will come out of this is, individuals will see the dangers of drunk-driving."
Blake's bond is set at $75,000.
Kenneth Scott Blake II has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of 16-year-old Laura Reynolds.
Fort Osage High School should be celebrating Monday. Their football team just completed its first undefeated season in school history. Instead, the student body is mourning the loss of a young life cut short.
Friday was a huge day for Laura Reynolds. The 16-year-old clarinet player competed with the high school band in Columbia that morning. That night she performed in the marching band for the school's final regular season completing the team's perfect record.
Twenty-four hours later she died in the intersection of Davis Road and Highway 24. Blake was charged on Monday with involuntary manslaughter with a blood alcohol content of at least .18 percent.
Reynolds and two girlfriends were driving home when police said Blake was heading the wrong way and crashed into them. Police think he had been drinking.
"It was a tough weekend for us here at Fort Osage," said Stephanie Smith, with the Fort Osage School District.
Smith said teachers greeted students with a somber account of what happened.
"And then we offered counseling and just listening and talking for those who needed that kind of assistance. We're also encouraging students to write or draw whether it's pictures, memories, something that helps them feel better," Smith said.
Reynold's pastor, Fred Young, said she was the youngest of three kids in a family that had already seen tragedy. He said her father had been killed in a motorcycle accident years ago when Laura was very young.
"Shy but very sweet, just an incredibly sweet girl," said Pastor Young.
Friends and family of Reynolds are invited to a vigil held on Monday night at the Eastside Baptist Church in Independence at 6:30.
"An incredible tragedy, but once again a loving family supportive of one another, good support system," said Pastor Young. "Certainly hope that one of the positives that will come out of this is, individuals will see the dangers of drunk-driving."
Blake's bond is set at $75,000.
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