Jan 27, 2016 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Charges of involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment were filed Wednesday against a Franklin Township woman who was driving an off-road vehicle that crashed in August, killing a 12-year-old boy.

Tracy Lynn Russell, 44, of 2680 Mt. Morris Road, was charged by state police in connection with the Aug. 8 crash that resulted in the death of Marrius L. Duncan of Adrian, Armstrong County.

Police said Russell was driving three children and another adult around her property in a utility-task vehicle at about 7:50 p.m. when the vehicle tipped over.

Marrius was taken to WHS-Greene hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy indicated cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head, neck and chest, according to the criminal complaint.

Margaret Bigley, the mother of Russell’s boyfriend, was the foster mother of Marrius and other children, ages 7 and 11, whose names were redacted from the complaint. Marrius was identified as the victim following the crash by Greene County Coroner Gregory Rohanna.

Troopers said they detected an odor of alcohol on Russell and noted she had glassy eyes and slurred speech. Blood tests indicated she had a blood-alcohol content of 0.130 percent.

In an interview with police, Russell said she was having a cookout and Bigley was there with her foster children, the complaint said. It was still daylight and the children wanted to go for a ride, she said.

Russell said she and two others were in the front seat and two children were in back utility bed. The children in the back wore helmets, she said, because the bed had no seat belts.

In addition to the misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter charge, Russell was charged with operating an ATV under the influence, driving in a careless manner and four counts each of endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering another person.

The complaint was filed with District Judge Glenn Bates and the charges were sent through summons. A preliminary hearing is scheduled at 1:30 p.m. March 1.