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| Flickr CC via sonofnels |
A court in Leesburg,
Virginia fined Jacqueline Badger Mars, one of the world’s richest women, $2,500 and suspended her
driver’s license for 6 months last week.
Mars, who is a co-owner of mega candy company Mars, pleaded guilty to
reckless driving for her role driving in a fatal crash.
The October crash
killed one passenger and caused a miscarriage in Aldie, Virginia. Mars, who is 74, reportedly told a witness
she fell asleep at the wheel and collided with a minivan after drifting over
the dividing line on the road.
The charge has a
maximum penalty of up to one year in jail, but the family of the victims asked
for lenience, citing they had forgiven Mars and understood it was an
accident. Mars was found without alcohol
in her system and has a perfect driving record.
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| Flickr CC via Madd Matt |
Mars is the seventh
richest woman in the world and the third richest woman in the United
States. She is estimated to be
worth$20.5 billion, and inherited ownership in the Mars company after the death
of her father in 1999. Mars manufactures
popular candy bars such as Milky Way, Snickers and M&Ms.
A spokesperson for Mars said that she was deeply regretful and would grieve the consequences of the
accident the rest of her life. Another
high profile heiress, Alice Walton, was involved in a similar accident in 1989
that killed a 50 year old woman. No
charges were ever filed against Walton.
Another billionaire heir, Thor Batista, is appealing a hot and run case
in Rio De Janiero.
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