NTSB Recommends cell phone and testing ban.

The National Traffic Safety Board has studied the use of cell phones and texting by drivers and has recommended that all States ban the use of cell phones and texting for all drivers, except in emergency situations.

Read a synopsis of the final recommendation at:

Board Meeting: Highway Accident Report: Gray Summit, MO: Collision Involving Two School Buses, a Bobtail and a Passenger Vehicle

Tell us how you would vote on this recommendation in our new poll on the right side of the blog page!

14 years for hit and run driver who killed horseback riding 12 year old.

Amber Kendrick was a happy 12 year old child riding her horse. She rode with two young men when she was killed by 28 year old Richard White near Jackson, Tn. White driving a pickup truck crashed into the child and her horse, killing them both. He then took off from the scene.

He has now been convicted of reckless vehicular homicide, his 4th driving on revoked license crime, possession of marijuana, and leaving the scene. After killing the girl, he removed the license plate from his truck and took off.

There is nothing more heartless and cruel than to leave a child in such a situation. Let's hope Mr. White changes his ways during his short time in prison. Amber's family does not get a second chance. Their loss is forever.

Read about the plea in the Jackson Sun at:

Hit-and-run driver pleads guilty: Richard Alan White gets 14 years in prison in plea deal | The Jackson Sun | jacksonsun.com

Dragon Crash Lawsuit

A family has filed a 14.5 million dollar lawsuit against a trucking company after a motocyclist on a Triumph Triple Speed motorcycle crashed into a semi truck that was alleged to be blocking both lanes of traffic. According to the Daily Times article there have been 17 motorcyclists killed on the Dragon, an 11 mile stretch of U.S. Hwy 129, in the last six years. One has involved a large truck.
Several Nashville riders, including members of the family of this biker, mounted a campaign shortly after the crash to persuade legislators to ban tractor-trailers longer than 30 feet from using the Dragon.
Read the article at:

http://www.thedailytimes.com/Local_News/story/Family-sues-for-145M-in-fatality-on-Dragon-id-018596

Cookeville impaired driver tries to eat car seat!

How drunk do you have to be to think that eating the back seat of the patrol car is a good idea?

Read about Charles Jones' arrest and remember he is presumed innocent unless and until he os proven guilty at:

Herald Citizen - Drunk driver eats patrol car seat

Gustavo Reyes denied parole recommendation

Five years into a 25 year sentence, Gustavo Reyes, was given a parole hearing. Reyes was made famous when he killed a Mt. Juliet couple after being spared deportation numerous times. His hearing was granted after he had served 21% of his time. He has not been a good prisoner with multiple behavior violations and a drug violation. The hearing officer was not impresssed. Read about it at:

Man convicted in vehicular homicide has parole hearing - Local News - Nashville, TN - msnbc.com

Vehicular Homicide Sentencing in Washington County

An impaired driver who crashed into a home and killed has been sentenced to serve 8 years for vehicular homicide by intoxication. Ashley Langworthy was driving over 90 mph with a BAC of .16 when she went airborne and killed 71 year old Glenn Smith in his living room. She sought alternative sentencing.

Read about the hearing at:

Former Guardswoman Sentenced For Deadly Crash - News Story - WCYB Tri Cities

Blood testing article from Rutherford County

Congratulations to Rutherford County for setting up a system in which the blood draw for DUI cases takes place at the jail. The County has a contract with a local Doctor to provide services. The system removes hospitals from the system completely. This is a good model for improvement in one county system.

Read about it at:

County confident in doing DUI blood tests at jail | The Daily News Journal | dnj.com