Impaired Driver Convicted of Killing Motorcyclist
DA Charme Allen announces that prosecutors in the DUI Unit obtained a conviction against a man who struck and killed a motorcyclist while driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Andres Antonio Tomas, 26, pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide by Intoxication. Judge Scott Green sentenced Tomas to ten years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Correction.
In a plea colloquy, Assistant District Attorneys Liza Guben and Greg Eshbaugh explained to the Court that on May 15, 2022, Knoxville Police Department Officer Horace Lane responded to a two-vehicle crash on Bruhin Road. The investigation revealed that Tomas was traveling north in a Honda Civic when he crossed the double-yellow line and struck the victim who was traveling southbound on a motorcycle. The force of the impact of the head-on collision killed the victim and was strong enough to break the motorcycle in half. After striking and killing the victim, Tomas exited his vehicle and fled the scene on foot. Officers found an open beer in the center console of Tomas’ vehicle and an empty case of beer in the back seat. After learning that the vehicle was registered to Tomas’ brother who lived nearby, officers headed in that direction and found Tomas. Ofc. Lane obtained a search warrant to draw Tomas’ blood, and the analysis of that blood by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation revealed Tomas had a blood alcohol content of 0.148, almost double the legal limit. Additionally, Tomas had marijuana and cocaine metabolites in his system.
“This is another example of the dangers of impaired driving,” said DA Allen. “We prosecute DUI cases in the hope that strict enforcement and aggressive prosecution may help prevent tragedies like the one in this case.”
After serving his sentence in prison, Tomas will be deported by immigration officials to Guatemala. Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Brittany Wilhelmson aided in the prosecution of this case.
If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.