Washington woman on trial in Kansas for two highway deaths

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Jury selection has begun in the trial of a Washington woman accused in the hit-and-run deaths of two highway workers south of Lawrence.

Ramona Morgan of Chewelah faces two counts of reckless second-degree murder in the Sept. 11, 2007, deaths in a work zone on U.S. 59 near Pleasant Grove. Kansas Department of Transportation worker Tyrone Korte, 30, of Seneca and contractor’s employee Rolland Griffith, 24, of El Dorado died.

Morgan, 49, also is charged with aggravated battery for injuring a third worker. She was convicted by an Osage County jury in April of a felony charge of trying to flee from police, as well as several misdemeanor traffic violations.

Prosecutors say Morgan ignored signs to stop and twice drove through the blocked-off construction area.

She allegedly struck Korte and Griffith on her second pass through the construction area.

Morgan’s attorney argues that she committed no crime.

“We want to give the jury all the facts so they can decide for themselves whether this tragedy was a crime,” said Billy Rork, Morgan’s attorney. “She was thoroughly convinced that her life was in danger. She maintains she did not know she struck anybody.”