Impaired Driver Convicted of Vehicular Homicide

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s DUI Unit obtained a conviction against an impaired driver who crossed into oncoming traffic and killed another motorist. Sarah Ann England, 35, pled guilty to Vehicular Homicide. Under the terms of the agreement, England must serve eight years in prison.

In a plea hearing before Judge Scott Green, Assistant District Attorneys Joe Welker and Greg Eshbaugh explained to the Court that on October 1, 2015, around 7:00 A.M., England was traveling north on Tazewell Pike near Fairview Road with her ten-year-old son when she crossed the double yellow line and entered the lane of oncoming traffic, striking the victim’s vehicle head-on. Tennessee Highway Patrol Trooper Wayne Cole responded to the wreck along with the THP Critical Incident Response Team who was able to reconstruct the crash based upon the evidence at the scene. A sample of England’s blood was obtained, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation analysis showed that England tested positive for multiple benzodiazepines. England also admitted to frequent opiate use as recent as the evening prior to the crash.

“This is yet another example of the costs of the prescription pill epidemic,” said DA Charme Allen.”DUI doesn’t just mean drunk driving. Drugged driving is just as dangerous.”

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.