Teasha Paniel, a former basketball and track standout at Halifax County High School, was killed early yesterday morning in a single car crash on Hyco Road.
Paniel, 22, was a passenger in a car driven by Rochelle Denise Chandler.
Chandler, who was seriously injured in the crash, was airlifted by emergency medical helicopter to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. after receiving initial treatment at Halifax Regional Hospital.
A spokesman for Duke University Medical Center said yesterday afternoon Chandler was listed in "fair" condition.
The fatal crash occurred at 2:50 a.m. yesterday on Route 744, four tenths of a mile east of the intersection of Route 658.
According to a report filed by Trooper L.G. Perkins, the car driven by Chandler ran off of the left side of the road and onto the shoulder of the highway.
Chandler lost control of the car and the car ran off of the right side of the road and struck two trees.
Paniel was ejected from the vehicle.
The 2001 model car driven by Chandler was declared a total loss.
No other details of the crash were available at press time.
Paniel was a standout athlete at Halifax County High School.
In her senior year in 1996, Paniel was named as the recipient of the Tuesday Woman's Club Outstanding Female Athlete Award, the top honor bestowed upon a female student athlete at the school.
That spring she was also recognized as "three times an all star" at the Halifax County High School All Star Student Awards Banquet, an honor that recognizes students for academics, citizenship and outstanding accomplishments in sports and other school-related activities.
Also in 1996, Paniel won the long jump in the Western District Track & Field Meet.
In addition, she was one of the top players on the Halifax County High School varsity girls basketball team and was named to the Second Team of the All Western District Basketball Team.

In other police reports,

A 17-year-old Halifax youth was charged with reckless driving early Sunday morning after crashing a vehicle into a tree.
Trooper D. O. Cooper II said the youth was driving a 1992 Plymouth, which ran off of the right side of Clays Mill Road.
The youth overcorrected and the vehicle ran off of the left side of the road, overturned and struck a tree, one and one-half mile east of Howrd P. Anderson Highway (Route 626), the trooper said.
The youth was injured from the 3:20 a.m. crash, which totalled the vehicle.
She was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital where she was treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.

It will be at least two weeks before Virgilina Elementary School Principal Aleta Fears, who is accused of conducting a wrongful strip search of fifth-grade girls at the school, will learn her fate.
The Halifax County School Board, following a two-hour hearing behind closed doors Thursday night, decided to postpone a decision on the matter until its May 14 meeting.
In the meantime, Fears will remain on administrative leave with pay.
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt said the trustees delayed the decision because they felt they needed more time to evaluate the evidence.
"They're going to take this time to assess the degree and the severity of the situation and what would be the proper response," Witt said.
Witt said he expects the School Board to issue a statement after a decision has been reached.
Three members of the Halifax County School Board, Wanda McDowell, D.H. McDowell Jr. and Patricia Nelson, were not present at Thursday night's hearing.
Witt said that despite the fact that the three School Board members were not present for the hearing, they could participate in the School Board's vote on May 14.
The school superintendent said that whether or not the trio will cast a vote is not known.
"I guess it depends on if they feel comfortable with the school board chairman or someone else on the school board conveying to them what was presented during the hearing," Witt said.
"That would be an individual choice."
The School Board has several options to consider, Witt said.
Among the responses the School Board has available to it, Witt explained, are to clear Mrs. Fears, issue a reprimand, place her on probation, reassign her to another position or terminate her employment.
Worth Hudson, a longtime employee of the school system and a former school principal, is handling the school's administrative needs during Fears' absence.
Hudson has been working in the school system on a part-time basis for several years handling some social work for Special Education referrals.
"With his expertise we feel he can take care of the administrative duties that need to be taken care of during Mrs. Fears' absence," said Witt.
Six witnesses testified in front of the School Board during Thursday night's hearing.
In addition, Fears' attorney, Edwin Gendron of Martinsville, presented the School Board a petition containing the signatures of approximately 90 individuals who support Fears.
Gendron said little after the hearing but did say "some of the allegations are absolutely not true" and that testimony to that effect was presented during the hearing
Acting upon Gendron's advice, Fears declined to comment when asked if she had any comments she wished to make.
Parents of three fifth-grade girls at Virgilina Elementary school have alleged that Fears acted improperly in conducting a body search of the school's fifth-grade girls in the wake of a theft of $30 at the school.
In a recent Letter To the Editor addressed to this newspaper, the three parents, Gina Bagby, Lynn Bowes and Pam Bowman, accused Fears of wrongfully requiring all of the fifth-grade girls to remove their shirts so that she could check their bras to determine if one of the students had stashed the missing money inside.
The parents allege that the girls could have refused to submit to the search but did not refuse out of fear of facing disciplinary action.
"These children have been subjected to a body search through intimidation by threatening disciplinary action and we also feel that this was not conducted by following proper channels," the parents stated in the letter.
Witt said school system policy prohibits strip searches.
The search at Virgilina Elementary School occurred after a student left $30 on a classroom desk, went to the cafeteria to eat breakfast and returned to find the money missing.
None of three parents nor any of the children that were subjected to the search appeared at Thursday night's hearing.
Nor were they present for the initial hearing held earlier this month at the School Board's April meeting.
However, approximately 30 people, all of whom were supporters of Fears, attended Thursday night's hearing.
Several of Fears' supporters said that all but one member of the Virgilina Elementary School staff was present at some point during the evening and that three or four others came and had to leave due to family commitments or other reasons.
The cadre of supporters waited with several members of Fears' family in the hallway outside of the meeting room hoping to hear a decision in the matter.
Mary Helen Gravitt, who had served as Fears' secretary for 11 years before retiring from the post in 1999 and ending a 25 year stint as school secretary, said she feels Fears is being "railroaded" by Witt and the School Board.
"It's not hard to stand up for what is right," Gravitt said.
"I really feel like employees in the school who were not able to be here tonight are afraid to voice an opinion.
"I also feel like Aleta's diligence in trying to fight the closing of the school has a part to do in this," added Gravitt.
"I feel these trumped up charges are being used to railroad her out."
Virgilina Elementary School PTO President Nick Long, speaking on a personal note, called the alleged incident an unfortunate incident for everyone concerned.
"I wish that this whole event had never occurred for all concerned," Long said.
"This is a bad situation from which it will be nearly impossible for there to be a conclusion which will please both sides."
Long also stated that while there is support for Fears, there is also support in other corners.
"After the April School Board meeting it was reported about the support for Mrs. Fears and, again, after the meeting Thursday night, similar reports concerning the number of supporters and the lack of opposition were widespread," Long said.
"To set the record straight, there is much support from many in the Virgilina community for the children involved and their parents.
"We are trusting that the administration and the School Board will make the appropriate decisions," Long concluded.

The Wilson Memorial Ruritan Club has gone on record opposing the targeted closure of Wilson Memorial Elementary School.
Officials of the Wilson Memorial Ruritan Club have sent a letter to Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt and the district's School Board representative, Wanda McDowell, citing opposition to the move that would come if the Halifax County School Board pushes through a proposed $10.7 million Phase II capital improvements program.
"Although budgets and the economy of school operations are important, the welfare and quality of education of our children should be our first priority," ruritan club president Susan Simonson, stated.
"Community support and interest should not be underestimated, as schools contribute to a good community and a good community contributes to good schools."
A petition containing the signatures of 33 members of the Wilson Memorial Ruritan Club was included with the letter.
Simonson pointed out that sums of from $5 million to $7 million are projected to be spent on school buildings that are 20 to 30 years older than Wilson Memorial Elementary School as opposed to an estimated $2 million that would be needed to upgrade Wilson Memorial.
"It doesn't seem very economical to close a 35 to 40-year-old school building and pay two to three times more to renovate buildings 20 or more years older than Wilson Memorial," Simonson wrote in the letter.
Simonson says redrawing the school district lines to bring back into the Wilson Memorial school attendance zone students that had been taken out of the zone and assigned to Meadville, Halifax, Sinai and Turbeville Elementary Schools during the course of former school redistricting moves is a way to keep the school as a viable part of the school system's operation.
"If students in those areas were reassigned again to Wilson Memorial, the cost per pupil would be decreased," Simonson said.
She also pointed out that in closing Wilson Memorial Elementary School, those students would be subjected to being bussed greater distances to and from school than they currently are now.
"We fully support the Wilson Memorial Community citizens who have earlier expressed to you their concerns and reasons for keeping our school open," Simonson concluded."
Wilson Memorial Elementary School and Virgilina Elementary School are targeted for closure under the proposed Phase II capital improvements project.
At a recent Wilson Memorial Elementary School PTO meeting, PTO members and community citizens made it clear to their School Board representative and their representative on the Board of Supervisors, Joe Satterfield, they want their school to remain open.
McDowell was handed a petition containing eight pages of signatures from parents and residents of the Wilson Memorial school district who oppose the closing of the school.
She said she will follow the wishes of the people of her district.
The primary concerns of the parents are the closing of their neighborhood school, the increased length of the bus rides their children will face in being transferred to Turbeville Elementary School, and the likelihood that their children will be placed in larger classes.
A number of parents made a point that the last couple of times the Wilson Memorial school district was formed, more and more students were lost to the school.
They contend that redrawing school district lines to bring in more children will elevate the school's student population to a level where it would be viable to keep the school in operation.
Satterfield said after that meeting that he would like to see the proposed project that will include renovations and additions to Cluster Springs, South of Dan Elementary School and Turbeville Elementary Schools go to a referendum in which the voters will decide whether the project goes through.
"But the game plan (of the School Board) is not to go to referendum because they have already started this way with Phase I," he said.

A musical and visual shock wave will blast theatergoers into the grim reality of World War II during a high-tech mix intro at Thursday's premiere of "The Diary of Anne Frank."
The shock wave will come courtesy of the play's director, Chris Jones, and two musician/engineer savvy Englishmen.
"We want to hit with a huge sound that focuses everyone," explained Jones.
Justin Spooner, an information technology consultant in Wales, is the lead composer in this particular joint effort. He began studying classical guitar in school but abandoned that pursuit and formed a band as a young man.
Today, in addition to helping businessmen tap into high-tech marketing via the Internet, Spooner has his own recording studio.
Neal Tomlinson, a technician with the electronic musical instrument producer, Roland, brings technical expertise as well as a classical musical background. Tomlinson, a Welshman, began studying piano at age 7.
The two men have composed and layered - using 10 synthesizers - about 28 minutes of music as the backdrop for the 1940's drama describing Anne Frank's flight, hideaway and ultimate capture by the Nazis.
Since the musician/composers arrived in Halifax County last week, they and the play's director have been busy coordinating the script and music.
"We took themes and tried to bring them back in, to make it jell," explained Spooner. "Basically, we have immersed ourselves in Anne Frank."
Although the teenager's ultimate fate was death, the musicians mixed feelings of despair and hope to create their music.
"The music is more mood setting, atmospheric, which allowed them to create sound and action, " explained Jones.
Sirens, explosions, footsteps on the stairs, a family music box, and a variety of combinations are musically layered to provide the musical backdrop for Anne Frank's eternal message to mankind.
The composers first met Jones through an Internet connection about two years ago. Last year they came to Halifax County during an East Coast tour.
When Jones began work with "The Diary of Anne Frank," the two re-visited the story and began composing music for Jones' production.
Although they e-mailed the music to the director prior to their arrival here, the composers had not seen his script. Slipping the music into just the right interval to set the mood stage is critical.
And it is technology that's making that final effort easier, particularly one piece of equipment, an SP 808 manufactured by Roland.
"We can take the music we created and store it, then begin without pause and play all the way through. We can even put in the static sounds heard on shortwave radios in the 1940s," explained Spooner.
A sensor component even makes it possible for a composer to direct sound by holding his hand near or extending the distance from the sensor.
"You can use your hand to trigger sounds and it allows you to create some effects as well," added Spooner.
"It has been fun, that's for sure," added Tomlinson. "We arrived Wednesday and went straight to the theater. We were up until midnight looking at the equipment."
Locally, two new 18" woofers will add to the musical reverberation announcing the play's opening.
The Englishman and Welshman agree that musical and technological expertise are a perfect blend in their field today, one they put to work in Spooner's studio.
"As a rule, musicians can be a bit impatient with the technology aspect," said Tomlinson. "But we both have patience with computers."
"Probably the most difficult part was working in the UK," added Spooner. "We had to take ideas from the script and bring them here and hope ..."
Also woven into the Anne Frank story by its director, are piece by Chopin and Mahler pieces that play their own musical roles.
Opening night, Anne Frank's director and its musical entourage will blend theatre, music and technology to propel its audience into a world of inhumanity, but one that leaves Anne Frank's hope in this poignant message: "In spite of it all, I still believe that people are good at heart."
The Halifax County Little Theatre and The Community Arts Center Foundation are presenting "The Diary of Anne Frank" on May 3, 4 and 5 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, May 6, at 3 p.m. at Halifax County High School Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and children.

Halifax County knew it was going to have a tussle when Albemarle came to town Friday.
But the Comets varsity girls softball team came out playing aggressive softball and turned in a big 8-1 win over the Patriots.
The win pushed the Comets' record to 11-1 overall and 3-0 in Western District play.
"We knew this was going to be a tough match from our first contest against them," said Comets coach Melanie Saunders.
"The girls were much more aggressive at the plate and hit the ball well."
Halifax County stung Albemarle for 10 hits with hurler Anna Lewis helping her own cause by getting two hits.
Jennifer Roller and Jenny Armistead also had two hits in the contest.
Lindsay Stolzenthaler, Branda Best, Amberly Moon and Emily Pool each had one hit apiece.
The Comets also got a solid performance from Lewis on the mound.
Lewis gave up only three hits, one run and did not walk any batters.
She struck out five of the 26 batters she faced in the game.
Stolzenthaler turned in a great defensive game at third base, making several good plays on some solid shots down the line.
"Her glove was like a magnet at third base," Saunders said.
"She caught a lot of hard shots down the line."
Albemarle turned a pair of hits into a run in the first inning but that was as far as the Patriots would get on the scoreboard.
The Patriots got only one hit the rest of the way, that coming in the sixth inning.
That runner, and two others the Patriots got as the result of Comets errors were the only other base runners Albemarle had in the game.
Halifax County broke the game open with a five-run rally in the third inning that started with a triple to center field by Stolzenthaler.
A bunt hit by Best scored Stolzenthaler for the tying run and a base hit by Roller scored Best to put the Comets on top 2-1.
One run scored when Brandi Conner reached base on an error and a two-RBI hit by Lewis completed the rally.
The Comets added three more runs in the fifth inning which started with Moon leading off with a walk and scoring on a triple by Lewis.
Lewis scored later on a passed ball and Best, who got on base with a walk, scored on a hit by Roller.
The Comets have a tough week ahead with a game against Person High School today, a game Thursday against Holy Cross and a big Western District game here Friday against GW.
"They are all very strong teams,' Saunders noted.
"They (Person and Holy Cross) should really help us prepare for the district game against GW."

Martha Wilborn Newby, 71, of 2208 Willow Street, South Boston, died Thursday, April 26 at her home.
Mrs. Newby was born October 18, 1929, the daughter of the late Herbert Wilborn and Lillie Conner Wilborn. She was married to the late Claude Cephas Newby and was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church where she served with the Bread Ministry.
Her survivors include a daughter and son-in-law: Phyllis and John (Tommy) Thompson of Atherton, CA; four sisters: Lula Wilbourn, Margaret Bane, Winnie Newby and Betty Wazeka, all of South Boston; granddaughter: Lauren Thompson and grandson: Seth Thompson.
She was also predeceased by a brother: Billy Wilborn and two sisters: Janie Sue Frazier and Barbara Puryear.

A funeral service was held Saturday, April 28 at Ash Avenue Baptist Church with Rev. J.C. Raper officiating. Burial was held in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials to please consider Ash Ave. Baptist Church.

Mr. Andrew Lee Wilmoth of 1084 Crute Lane, Scottsburg, died Sunday, April 29 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was born in Halifax County April 24, 1926 and was 75 years old.
He was the son of Mr. James Massey Wilmoth and Mrs. Iola Fleming Snead Wilmoth and was married to Cindy Lillian Wilmoth. He was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church.
Mr. Wilmoth is survived by his wife; one daughter and son-in-law: Susie Shults and husband, Bernie of Colonial Heights; one son and daughter-in-law: David Lee Wilmoth and wife, Barbara of Hopewell; two sisters: Annie Long of Roxboro, N.C. and Helen Epps of Halifax; one brother: Ernest Edward Wilmoth of Cody; eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceeded in death by one daughter, Barbara Wilmoth Hackney.
Funeral services for Mr. Wilmoth will be held Tuesday, May 2 at 3 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tony Brooks and the Rev. Jason Murray conducting the service. Burial will take place in Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and at other times at his home, 1084 Crute Lane, Scottsburg.

Vivian Clesta Martin, age 72, of Oak Grove Lodge, Chatham died Friday April 27 at Danville Regional Medical Center. She was born in Halifax County July 12, 1928, daughter of the late Charlie Gordon Martin and Clesta Wilmouth Martin.
She spent most of her life in Scottsburg where she was a member of Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include one brother: William Gordon Martin of Scottsburg; three sisters: Clara M. Trent of Hurt, Earline M. Sanders of Danville and Pauline M. Gray of South Boston and a number of nieces and nephews.
The Rev. Harvey Johnson will conduct graveside funeral services today at 2:30 at Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.

Mr. Fred Perkins of 1017 William Chism Lane, Halifax died Friday, April 27 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 83.
He was born in Oxford, North Carolina on May 16, 1917 and was the son of the late Luther Perkins and Mrs. Lillie Stovall Perkins. He was married to the late Mrs. Vea Arthur McCargo Perkins and was a member of the New Bethel Baptist Church.
Mr. Perkins is survived by three daughters: Mrs. Thelma P. Glass, Mrs. Catherine P. Davis and Mrs. Doris P. Sydnor, all of Halifax; four sons: Abraham Perkins and Solomon Perkins, both of Halifax; Robert Perkins of South Boston and James Perkins of Clarksville; twenty-nine grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; two sisters: Mrs. Dorothy Royster of Danville and Mrs. Beulah Green Lee of Connecticutt; one brother: Taree Perkins of Alton; one son-in-law: Cellus Glass of Halifax; two daughters-in-law: Mrs. Toni L. Perkins of South Boston and Mrs. Doris Perkins of Clarksville and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by four children: Arthur, Fred, Jimmy and Samuel Perkins.
Funeral services for Mr. Perkins will be held Tuesday, May 1 at 2 p.m. with services at New Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. William Yancey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 1017 William Chism Lane, Halifax.

Mr. William Thomas Satterfield III of 5212 L.P. Bailey Memorial Hwy., Halifax died April 27 at Duke University Medical Center. He was born in Halifax County February 9, 1987 and was 14 years old.
He was the son of William Thomas Satterfield Jr., and Mrs. Diana Glasscock Satterfield.
Mr. Sattefield is survived by his parents; one sister: Angela Satterfield of Halifax; his maternal grandmother: Darlene Mullins of South Boston; his paternal grandmother: Dorothy Kinder of Cedar Bluff and his maternal great-grandmother: Lelia Carson of Richmond.
Graveside services for Mr. Satterfield will be held today at Mount Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs conducting the service.