Woman Charged with Intoxication Assault in DUI Death
Michael Campbell, 41, was driving his Corvette north on Interstate 65 near OId Hickory Boulevard, going home after an Eric Church concert, just before midnight when his car was struck head on by a Cadillac Escalade driven by Delois Beasley, 38, of Nashville. According to Nashville police, Ms. Beasley was drunkenly driving her vehicle on the wrong side of the road when the accident occurred.
Mr. Campbell’s passenger was Terry Anderson, 32, who was seriously injured as a result of the accident. He is still being treated at TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville for his injuries which include a small brain bleed and other serious injuries that have required surgery. Unfortunately, Mr. Campbell was declared dead at the scene, and he left behind a wife and three children.
The arrest report stated that Ms. Beasley consented to a blood draw for alcohol concentration testing at the hospital and told police at the scene that she had consumed “way too much alcohol” before getting behind the wheel. She has been charged with vehicular homicide by intoxication and vehicular assault. Ms. Beasley is expected to be arrested upon her release from the hospital for the injuries that she sustained during the accident.
Tennessee Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication
According to Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-213, the crime of vehicular homicide by intoxication occurs when there is “the reckless killing of another by the operation of an automobile, airplane, motorboat or other motor vehicle, as the proximate result of . . . the driver’s intoxication.”
The punishment for vehicular homicide by intoxication is a Class B felony that comes with a prison sentence between three and 10 years as well as a license revocation for the same range of time upon release. In addition, the family of the person killed as a result of the drunk driving can file a civil lawsuit for wrongful death damages.
Tennessee Vehicular Assault
Vehicular assault is defined in Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-13-106 as a person who “as the proximate result of the person’s intoxication . . . recklessly causes serious bodily injury to another person by the operation of a motor vehicle.”
The penalty for vehicular assault is a Class D felony that comes with a prison sentence between two and 12 years. In addition, the driver’s license is revoked between one and five years, depending on the number of prior offenses. There are also fines, court costs, and a potential civil lawsuit filed by anyone who was injured as a result of the vehicular assault for their personal injuries.
Call a Nashville Lawyer Today
Becoming the victim of a personal injury accident is bad enough, but when you are injured by a drunk driver the issues can be even more complicated. If you or someone that you know has been injured or killed by a drunk driver in the Nashville area, let the experienced lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC help. Call or contact the office today for a free and private review of your claims.
