News

Actions

Family defends local Pastor after driving into Krispy Kreme, and a DUID for a second crash

Posted at 10:21 PM, Apr 04, 2012
and last updated 2012-04-05 09:22:14-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va (WTVR)- Family members say Krispy Kreme was not a pastor’s destination Tuesday morning.

They say a back spasm not only led to the storefront accident but another one in the West End a few hours later.

And after the rear-end collision at Gaskins and Patterson Tuesday afternoon, Jay Bertrand, an assistant pastor at Varina Baptist Church, was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs.

“They're very sad about impacting other people’s lives like this,” said his brother-in-law Brandon Pickett about the rest of his family.  “They're asking for prayers."

Bertrand has been released from the Henrico County jail, but his family wants viewers and readers to know the “back” story.   Pickett says it started early Tuesday at a Krispy Kreme store on West Broad.  “He had a severe back spasm before he went into the Krispy Kreme,” said.  “It just locked up on him."

Bertrand was treated and released from St. Mary’s Hospital after the accident.  Police say doctors had told him not to operate heavy machinery, but his brother-in-law doesn’t think Bertrand fully understood the medical advice.

“As far as I understand it, the doctor gave him permission to drive," said Pickett.

But then hours later, in  Bertrand’s other vehicle, the accident at the West End intersection and more trouble for the pastor.  “He was doing his pastoral duty, visiting a friend at the hospital, when his back locked up on him again," said Pickett.