A 51-year-old Centralia motorcyclist has been charged with reckless homicide in connection with an Easter Day fatal crash on East McCord Street at Edgewood Lane on the east side of Centralia.
Timothy Ramsey of East Quince faces the charge in Marion County Court for his role in the death of 51-year-old Elizabeth ‘Beth’ Ramsey. She was a passenger on the bike who was killed.
State Police accident reconstructionists found Timothy Ramsey was traveling eastbound at 84 miles per hour, passing vehicles, when he crested a hill and saw eastbound traffic stopped for a car to make a left turn. He returned to the eastbound lane but was unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the turning vehicle.
Beth Ramsey was pronounced dead on the scene. Timothy was airlifted from SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital to a St. Louis hospital for treatment. He has since recovered from his injuries.
A warrant was issued for Timothy Ramsey’s arrest on Thursday. He was arrested at his home and taken to the Marion County Jail around five on Thursday evening. With the courthouse closed on Friday, Ramsey is expected to make his first court appearance on Monday.
Centralia Police Lieutenant Steve Whritenour says the reckless homicide charge is based on the estimated speed of the motorcycle at 84 miles per hour. He commended the work of Detective Mickey Jader for putting hundreds of hours into the investigation, along with the State Police Reconstruction Team. Whritenour says State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth also spent countless hours working with Centralia Police in building the case against Ramsey.
The driver of the SUV that was struck, 23-year-old Travor Andershock of St. Peters, Missouri, received only minor injuries.
