Fanning teen sentenced in fatal traffic crash

A 19-year-old Fanning Springs woman was sentenced on June 10 for three traffic violations in connection with a Jan. 29 crash that caused the death of a Chiefland woman. 

Sandra Vanessa Elviro, 19, of Fanning Springs, pleaded no contest to citations for running a stop sign, not wearing a seat belt and not providing proof of insurance in county court. 

The citations stem from a crash at the intersection of U.S. 129 and County Road 346A that caused the death of Teresa Reed Riedel, 49, of Chiefland.

County Judge James T. Browning found her guilty on all three traffic violations. He suspended her driving license for six months, and fined her $1,000 on the stop sign citation. With other fees she owes $1,098. She also must attend driver improvement school and perform 120 hours of community service. On the seat belt citation Elviro was assessed fines totaling $113 and imposed 15 hours of community service. She is also paying a $113 fine on the insurance citation. 

Browning also set a compliance hearing for Aug. 22. 

According to a Florida Highway Patrol press release Elviro was driving on CR 346A approaching U.S. 129 at about 6:20 a.m. and failed to stop for the stop sign at the intersection and struck the left side of Reidel's vehicle.

Elviro was seriously injured in the accident when her car rotated, left the road and came to rest is some brush. Reidel's vehicle left the road and lodged in two trees.