Star woman charged in boy’s death

Published: August 16, 2012 

HELEN BURGESS

Provided by Ada County Sheriff's Office

Helen C. Burgess, 42, who police say crashed into the rear of another vehicle at a stoplight in June — causing fatal injuries to a young boy — has been charged with felony vehicular manslaughter, the Ada County Sheriff's Office said Thursday afternoon.

Alvin Strauss, 5, died from injuries he suffered in the crash. His sister, Lorna Marie Strauss, 7, was hospitalized for an extended time after the crash, but she has since been released.

Burgess was arrested on a warrant Thursday afternoon and ordered held on a $1 million bond. She will be arraigned on Friday.

The crash occurred on the morning of June 16 at the intersection of Idaho 44 and Idaho 16.

The Strauss family was in a 1998 Dodge Caravan that was stopped at the light. Burgess was traveling east on Idaho 44 in a Ford Explorer, and she failed to stop — striking the rear of the minivan at highway speeds, investigators said. The posted speed limit is 55 mph.

Taken to the hospital were the two Strauss children, as well as Burgess and a 14-year-old girl in her vehicle. Police said neither Burgess nor the girl were wearing seat belts.

Burgess has prior driving-related arrests, according to the Idaho Repository.

In 2009, she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor DUI, and she received a withheld judgment. She was ordered to pay $359 in fines and fees, put on probation for a year and required to attend a victim’s impact panel.

In 2011, she pleaded guilty to misdemeanor inattentive driving. She was fined $387 and ordered to attend drug and substance abuse classes.

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