Something tragic occurred early Sept 17 along a darkened Ironton road. Though the details remain unclear, the effects are all too visible: Two families are being torn apart.

Some facts are clear. Ironton resident Kathleen Owens, 35, was killed on the floodwall near the former Buckeye Flea Market along First Street, presumably by someone driving a vehicle.

Kimberly Dawn Delawder, 33, 90 Pine St., Ironton, was arrested Sept. 21 in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on charges of aggravated vehicular homicide. The rest of the picture is still coming into focus, but some details were released in a pretrial hearing Thursday.

Delawder's family and Owens' loved ones sat quietly on opposite side of the Ironton Municipal Courtroom in front of Judge O. Clark Collins Jr., sobbing as the details were recounted. Ultimately, Collins heard from Prosecutor J.B. Collier Jr., defense attorney David Reid Dillon and Ironton Police Det. Jim Carey before determining there was enough evidence to send the case to a grand jury.

Both families appeared shaken by the ordeal and the description of what investigators believe happened that fateful night. For Owens' family, the story that it was an accident just doesn't add up.

&#8221She was my pride and joy, my best friend,“ said Betty Thompson, Owens’ mother, who received a call from her daughter that morning pleading for help. &#8221I'm the one who has hear her last words when I sleep. And don't sleep now.

&#8221I don't have a phone number to Heaven so I can talk to her.“

Delawder's family hesitated to say they believed she was innocent, but said that she would never knowingly hurt a soul.

&#8221Down deep in our hearts, we know she didn't do this on purpose,“ said Sue Moore, Delawder's aunt. &#8221She would never hurt anyone.“

The only witness called was Det. Carey, who outlined details of the crime scene and how law enforcement officers were led to Delawder. The officer, with 16 years experience, testified that he had statements from Delawder and Jenny Gannon, a passenger with Delawder, in a borrowed vehicle that night.

Delawder had admitted to being intoxicated on alcohol and crack cocaine before getting behind the wheel of the vehicle in search of more beer, Carey said. At some point, they drove over the floodwall and realized they had hit something.

&#8221(Delawder) indicated that she did hit something and thought it was a railroad tie or driftwood,“ Carey said. &#8221She said it was a pretty hard hit and it felt like she was dragging something.“

Delawder told investigators that she did not realize that she had hit a person and that they did not want to stop because they had been drinking and it was an unsafe area, Carey said. Later, she learned a body had been found in that area and eventually fled to South Carolina, Carey said.

The vehicle Delawder was driving had marks on the left side and one section of the frame tested positive for blood. Preliminary results from an autopsy performed by the Franklin County Coroner's Office revealed injuries consistent with being hit by a vehicle, Carey said.

Why Owens would have been in that area remains unknown. Carey said family members believe she often went there to grieve over the loss of her brother.

The investigation has not revealed that Owens and Delawder knew each other, Collier said.

Delawder remained incarcerated in the Lawrence County Jail Thursday on a

$200,000 bond. Her attorney urges everyone to allow due process.

&#8221People should withhold judgment until all the evidence is in,“ Dillon said. &#8221Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.“