County man pleads guilty in DUI fatality

By Chris Dumond

Published: July 9, 2008

A Madison Heights man pleaded guilty on July 2 to involuntary manslaughter and driving drunk in the July 2007 death of a Lynchburg-area woman.

Terry Severson, 44, made the plea in Campbell County Circuit Court. Severson told the court he has been sober since November and attends Narcotics Anonymous meetings twice a day every day.

“Alcohol has completely taken over my life,” he said.

On July 28, Irene Cox, 64, was driving east on Virginia 24 east of Gough Road near Rustburg when Severson, headed west, crossed the center line in his 1997 Chevy Silverado truck, according to the Virginia State Police.

Severson hit Cox, causing her to spin into the westbound lane where she was struck by a tractor-trailer. She died about an hour later at Lynchburg General Hospital.

Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Paul McAndrews said Severson’s blood alcohol level was 0.14 at the time. At 0.08, drivers are considered impaired in Virginia.

After the guilty plea, McAndrews asked Judge John Cook to revoke Severson’s $30,000 secured bond and to send him back to jail.

Severson’s lawyer, David Shreve, argued that taking away his client’s ability to go to his substance abuse meetings would be counter productive. Shreve also said that preliminary sentencing guidelines call for Severson to spend no time in jail.

Until Severson’s scheduled Sept. 30 sentencing, the judge ordered that he may not drive except to and from his narcotics anonymous meetings and to and from his lawyer’s office.

He remains free on bond.