Inset: Daniel Thomas (Shelby County Sheriff”s Office). Background: A section of Union Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee (Google Maps).
According to Shelby County court documents, 67-year-old Daniel Thomas has been charged with vehicular homicide for his role in the deadly collision. His charges extend beyond the most serious offense, encompassing DUI, reckless driving, public intoxication, and operating a vehicle without a valid driver’s license.
The identity of the woman who lost her life in this unfortunate accident has not yet been disclosed.
The events unfolded on a Thursday evening, as reported by NBC affiliate WMC, when the woman found herself stranded and pulled her vehicle to the roadside, activating her hazard lights for safety. Despite her precautions, tragedy struck when Thomas, reportedly under the influence, collided with her vehicle.
Union Avenue, known for its heavy traffic as it cuts through a significant portion of Memphis, was the scene of this heartbreaking incident that serves as a stark reminder of the perils of impaired driving.
Union Avenue in Memphis runs horizontally through a major part of the city.
Thomas was driving on the same road in a Honda Pilot when he hit the woman’s car with the front of his SUV, the Memphis Police Department said. He also allegedly hit the woman herself as she was standing outside her vehicle.
At about 9 p.m., police reportedly arrived at the scene and pronounced the woman dead. They also made contact with Thomas, who allegedly smelled like alcohol and admitted to having had multiple drinks.
The defendant additionally “performed poorly” on a field sobriety test and tested positive for 1.6 grams of THC after he had blood drawn at a nearby hospital, according to police.
He was arrested and booked into jail. Thomas is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday and have his bail reviewed the following day.
