Three injured after vehicle crashed into a Front Royal 7-Eleven in June

By Ben Orcutt -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — A Warren County woman who injured three people after crashing into a town 7-Eleven was found guilty of improper driving on Tuesday in General District Court.

Barbara D. Dressler, 53, of 10353 Stonewall Jackson Highway, Front Royal, was initially charged with reckless driving after she crashed her 2001 Ford into the 7-Eleven at the intersection of Sixth Street and North Royal Avenue shortly after 8 a.m. on June 7.

Judge W. Dale Houff ordered Dressler to pay a $500 fine. Houff granted Front Royal defense attorney Jerry O. Talton's motion to strike a charge of driving on a suspended operator's license.

Houff said that since Dressler had been issued a restricted license after being found guilty of DUI in January, she could not be convicted of driving on a suspended operator's license under the statute she had been charged.

"This is a horrible incident, and I'm troubled by what's happened," Houff said. "I don't think I can find recklessness. Driving into a 7-Eleven is not something someone normally intends to happen."

The only evidence before him, Houff said, was that the crash was accidental. Front Royal police officer Marlon Darlington testified that upon responding to the crash, Dressler said her sandal got caught between the brake and the gas pedal, and that she accidentally crashed into the store.

Darlington said Dressler was aware that she was driving on a restricted operator's license, which allowed her to go to and from work and to and from ASAP, and that she told him she stopped at the 7-Eleven on her way to ASAP to get a money order.

Kelly A. Hines, an intern with the commonwealth attorney's office and a recent law school graduate, prosecuted the case under the supervision of Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Nicole M. Spicer, the official attorney of record.

Hines argued that Dressler was guilty of driving on a suspended operator's license because stopping at a 7-Eleven was not included in the exceptions for her restricted license.

Hines also argued that Dressler was guilty of reckless driving because her vehicle went completely into the store, striking and injuring three people.

Skid marks in the store's parking lot indicated that Dressler "floored" the vehicle, Hines said, adding that Dressler went over a 3- to 4-inch curb before entering the store.

"If she had been driving at a speed that was appropriate, this would not have happened," Hines told the court.

Debbie Vorous, who was working as a clerk at the 7-Eleven, testified Tuesday that she had just entered the store, and that her back was to Dressler's vehicle when she was struck.

Appearing in a wheelchair, Vorous told the court that she is missing a bone in her left leg and has undergone five surgeries as a result of the crash, with more surgery planned. Vorous, who was 52 at the time of the crash, said she can walk some with the aid of a cane or a walker.

After Tuesday's proceeding, fellow 7-Eleven clerk Mary Moppin said the outcome of the trial was "sickening" as she filed out of the courthouse with Vorous and others. Vorous had no comment.

Vorous' husband, Robert Vorous, said his wife has retained an attorney to explore civil action against Dressler.

A former clerk at the store herself, Dressler said on her way out of the courthouse that the employees there were like "family" to her.

"I'm sorry that Debbie got hurt," Dressler said, breaking into tears. "I'm sorry that the other people got hurt, but it was not intentional."

* Contact Ben Orcutt at borcutt@nvdaily.com