CRAWFORD COUNTY, PA. Judge decides woman didn't commit suicide

The woman's husband can now collect benefits.
MEADVILLE, Pa. (AP) -- A woman did not deliberately drown herself and her three young children 61/2 years ago by driving her car into an icy creek, a judge ruled in a decision contradicting state police and the county coroner's findings.
Crawford County Judge Gordon R. Miller, who presided over a civil trial over insurance payments, ruled the December 1997 deaths of 29-year-old Tina Reid and her three children -- Veronica, 9, Amanda, 6, and Timothy, 3 -- were accidental.
Can collect benefits
Last week's ruling clears the way for Reid's widower, Wayne Michael Reid Jr., to collect benefits on the family's automobile insurance policy.
The insurer, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., had maintained it did not have to pay benefits because their deaths were not an accident. State Farm's attorneys are looking over the case and have not decided whether they will appeal the ruling, spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson said Tuesday.
The state police investigation showed Tina Reid deliberately turned left off state Route 322 just south of Meadville. The car crossed an opposing lane and about 30 feet of grass and rocks and entered French Creek at a right angle. Tire tracks showed the car did not skid or veer, investigators said.
The current Crawford County coroner stands by former coroner Arden Hughes' 1997 investigation and ruling.
"That was the former coroner's ruling, and as far as we are concerned, there has been no change. It is still a case of homicide and suicide," said Crawford County Coroner Patrick McHenry.
Woman had troubles
Officials at the time said Reid's financial and marital troubles might have led the woman to kill her children and herself.
Tina Reid's mother, Deloris Burrows, was critical of the initial investigation and was relieved by Miller's ruling.
"I'm thrilled," Burrows said. "She has been vindicated."
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