74-year-old Jacqueline Badger Mars, an owner of McLean based candy company Mars Inc. will face a reckless driving misdemeanor charge for her role in a fatal crash, the Loudoun County Commonwealth Attorney's Office which is based in Virginia, as reported by NBC News.
A summons was issued for Mars to appear in court on December 5 to face the charge, Bloomberg reported.
Mars had been traveling westbound near Aldie Virginia in her 2004 Porsche sport utility vehicle on Route 50 in the afternoon when her SUV crossed the center line and struck an eastbound minivan occupied by six women, the county sheriff said in a statement, news reports said.
The sheriff's office said that Irene Ellsor, an 86-year-old passenger who was sitting in the back seat of the minivan, was killed in the crash. She was not wearing a seat belt according to the statement.
The driver of the minivan, who was pregnant, was taken to hospital in critical condition and lost the baby she was carrying, Reuters reported. The remaining four minivan passengers were briefly hospitalized, Reuters reported.
The people in the minivan were visiting from Texas and in Virginia for a wedding, according to news reports..
Kent Jarrell, Mars' personal spokesman said that "As court proceedings begin, Jacquie's thoughts and prayers remain with those who have suffered injury and loss [Mars] regrets this tragic accident."
Forbes magazine listed Badger Mars as the 15th richest American last month with a wealth of $20.5 billion, Reuters reported. Most of her fortune comes from owning one-third of the world's second largest candy maker. The Mars company also owns Snickers, M&Ms & Milky Way. The manufacturer of Mars and a host of other candy bars has been in operation since 1911
