Tragic news struck the community of Rosman, North Carolina, when two high school students lost their lives in a fatal ATV accident in August 2024. Layne Jones and Jayden Reynaldo, students at Rosman High School, were riding an ATV on Old Wagon Road when they collided with a tree, resulting in their untimely deaths.
Reports indicate that Jones and Reynaldo had been attending a party on the street the night of the crash. Following an investigation into the incident, three adults have been arrested and charged in connection with the tragic accident.
Ashley Marie Darity, 35, has been indicted on two counts of involuntary manslaughter related to the incident. Additionally, Patricia Whitehead, 33, and Brandon Rathbone, 47, have also been arrested by North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement.
According to court records, Whitehead is facing two charges of aiding an underage purchase of alcohol, while Rathbone is facing one count of the same charge. These charges, dated February 2023, are reportedly linked to the ATV accident that claimed the lives of Jones and Reynaldo.
The court documents allege that Whitehead and Rathbone provided alcohol to a juvenile under 21 and hosted an underage house party. Shockingly, it is stated that they held a female juvenile up while she performed a keg stand, raising serious concerns about the events leading up to the fatal accident.
Darity, who faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, has been released on a $20,000 bond. At this time, her attorney has chosen not to comment on the case, leaving the community and authorities grappling with the aftermath of this devastating incident.
