Impaired Driver Convicted of Second Vehicular Assault

For the second time, prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit convicted Jason Cleve Watts, 36, of Vehicular Assault after his impaired driving seriously injured another motorist. In a plea hearing today, Watts received a sentence of eight-years in prison stacked on top of a four-year sentence for a 2010 Vehicular Assault conviction. Watts also pled guilty to Reckless Endangerment and agreed to pay nearly $10,000 in restitution to the victim to cover medical bills.

During today’s hearing, Assistant District Attorney Joe Welker explained to Judge Steve Sword that on March 1, 2014, Watts was driving a van onto the entrance ramp of Interstate 75 South at Callahan Drive when he failed to yield to oncoming traffic and struck a truck driven by the victim. Watts admitted to EMS paramedics and Knoxville Police Department Officer Roy King that he consumed five drinks and a hydrocodone pill at a nearby bar. Watts submitted to a blood alcohol test that showed his blood alcohol content was 0.11, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08. Because of Watts’ impaired driving that led to the crash, the victim lost consciousness after the wreck, suffered multiple rib fractures and a concussion, and used a walker for several weeks after the collision. The impact of the vehicles was so forceful that it snapped the victim’s seatbelt.

“We aggressively prosecute DUI cases in an effort to deter impaired driving because all too often, impaired driving leads to catastrophic results,” said DA Charme Allen.”Yet another victim will have to live with the lifelong consequences of Watts’ decision to drink and drive.”

Watts was previously convicted in another Vehicular Assault case stemming from an accident in September 2010 where he admitted drinking six beers before causing a wreck that left a different victim with serious bodily injury. Because of Watts, the DA’s Office pushed for new legislation to enact tougher sentences for repeat vehicular assault offenders. In 2015, the General Assembly responded by creating the offense of Aggravated Vehicular Assault, which increases the offense level and punishment for repeat offenders like Watts.

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.