New Drunk Driving Law in Tennessee Could Penalize Drivers Who Kill a Parent

A proposed new drunk driving law in Tennessee will carry heavier consequences for those who get a conviction for killing a parent while driving under the influence of alcohol. House Bill 1834, also known as "Bentley's Law," will have drunk drivers pay child support to the surviving victims who have children under 18 years old.

The legislation, filed with the Tennessee General Assembly, is the idea of grandmother Cecilia Williams whose son, Cordell Williams, grandson Cordell II, and the baby's mother Lacy, all died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver in 2021. The suspect, David Thurby, also had a separate drunk driving charge that led to the death of another person.

Cordell and Lacy left behind two other kids, Bentley and Mason, who are now in the care of Cecilia. The grandmother said that the law must make convicted drunk drivers in Tennessee be financially responsible for the young victims because their parents are no longer around to care for them.

The Car Crash that Took 3 Lives

In April 2021, Thurby, from Missouri, was driving on the road despite being heavily under the influence of alcohol. CBS News reported that his blood-alcohol level was double the legal limit. Thurby also admitted to the traffic police that he had some shots before he slammed into Cordell's car from the back.

The drunk driver had minor injuries, but Cordell, Lacy, and their four-month-old boy never made it out of their car alive. Lacy's sister said that she even had her seatbelt on, but the crash's force was so strong that their car went through a ditch and caught fire.

Thurby is expected to face the jury for this trial in September after he was charged with three counts of driving while intoxicated. He was also charged with drug possession.

Since the accident, Cecilia has been working with members of the House to ensure that this legislation will become a new drunk driving law in Tennessee. Rep. Mark Hall has sponsored the legislation that will also be introduced in other states like Alabama, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.

The proposal will leave it up to the courts to determine the exact child support payment, depending on the needs of the children left behind. If the drunk driver is still in prison, the child support should come one year after the person's release. They are expected to continue paying the full amount ordered by the court even if the child is past 18 years old by the time the drunk driver is out of prison.

A Deterrent for Drunk Drivers

Lawyer Jay Kennamer believes that the legislation brings a fair punishment for drunk drivers, but he thinks it might be difficult to collect child support from the convicted, according to WebMD. However, if the new drunk driving law in Tennessee receives the governor's signature, it will deter drivers from carelessly taking the wheel.

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that 31 percent of traffic accidents that caused deaths in Tennessee were attributed to drunk drivers. Williams believes that this heavy penalty reminds people to drive responsibly because their actions can impact families. The grandmother said that her grandkids were not given any choices when their parents and their youngest brother were abruptly taken away and that, for her, is not fair.