RICHMOND, Va. -- Robert Stevens Gentil, 32, of Richmond, was charged with felony involuntary manslaughter in connection to the fatal crash that killed author, historian and University of Richmond faculty member Elizabeth B. Pryor. A Mitsubishi Outlander struck Pryor's Audi along Grove Avenue Monday afternoon, according to Richmond Police.
Witnesses who saw the crash told police the Mitsubishi was traveling between 80 - 90 miles per hour when it struck the Audi. Pryor, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The Mitsubishi jumped the median, ran through a fence and struck the front of a home. Gentil remains in critical care at VCU Medical Center.
Elizabeth B. Pryor
The name Robert Stevens Gentil appears several times over the years in local courts due to driving infractions:
- Speeding in Richmond in 2008 and 2009.
- Speeding, seat belt violations and improper driving in Henrico in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011
- Speeding in Hanover in 2010
- Speeding in Louisa in 2009
Gentil works as teacher with Richmond Public Schools, a Richmond Public School spokeswoman confirmed. His name appears on the Thomas Jefferson High School website as an IB Spanish teacher. Court documents state Gentil has MA in education and has worked at Thomas Jefferson for four years.
"He didn't seem like a speeder or an aggressive person, he just seemed really relaxed and nice," said Regginae Fountain, a student at Thomas Jefferson High.
Gentil's driving record will not be allowed to be brought up during trial, but could be used during sentencing if convicted, WTVR CBS 6 legal analyst Todd Stone said.
"His prior driving history is not something that can be used to prove him guilty of his offense," Stone said.
Gentil lived less than a mile from the crash site. Pryor lived close to the crash scene too.
If convicted, Gentil could face 10 years in prison.
Detectives asked anyone with any information about the crash to call Crash Team Sergeant Scott Jones at 804-646-1369 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.
