We recently blogged about the Ooltewah truck accident, which killed six people and injured several more. The accident occurred when driver Benjamin Brewer allegedly crashed into slowed traffic in 2015. He was charged with six counts of vehicular homicide, four counts of reckless aggravated assault and one count of speeding, driving under the influence and violation of motor carrier regulations. His trial was supposed to begin recently, but has been delayed pending the discovery of new evidence.
A drug test conducted at the scene of the accident found .08 micrograms per milliliter of meth and .05 micrograms per milliliter of amphetamine in Brewer’s system. This drug test was conducted by TBI on July 16. However, a second test of the blood conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) later in the year found .045 micrograms per milliliter of meth and less than .022 micrograms per milliliter of amphetamine in his system, amounts far less than the original test. The defense argued that it should have been given the second test results long ago to help them with their arguments. The prosecution denies willfully withholding the test results from the defense.
His defenders now need more time to study the results of the NTSB test and time to find a lab worker to testify as a witness. The jury in the case, which was brought in from Nashville in order to avoid bias from the case’s media exposure, will be dismissed and a new one will be selected at a later date.
Psalm 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”