Suspected Georgia Drunk-Driver Who Killed Doctor Sentenced To A Year In Prison

 

After reaching a plea agreement on Monday, a suspected drunk driver accused of killing a young Black doctor was sentenced to one year in prison. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the suspected DUI crash occurred on January 18, 2020, in Cobb County, Georgia.

Tyler Wallace, a 26-year-old doctor, was believed to be travelling home from a post-medical training program when an allegedly drunk Brent Douglas Davis struck his vehicle. Davis was eventually charged in connection with Wallace’s murder when he died from his injuries.

Davis will be on probation for 14 years when he is released from prison, in addition to his prison sentence. The family of the deceased doctor, who were in the courtroom on Monday, presented Wallace’s doctor’s coat and picture while his sister talked.

“This is Dr. Tyler Wallace, our brother’s white coat,” Charisse Gilbert said. “He earned this during his first year in medical school in Augusta. We’ll never have an opportunity to enjoy the fruits of his labor, the fruits of his sacrifice, the fruits of his discipline, and neither will he.”

Police, in an arrest warrant, said, Davis hit his 2014 Toyota Tundra into the driver’s side of Wallace’s 2016 Chrysler 200 after the deceased doctor branched toward Highlands Parkway Drive around 6 pm.

“It was determined that the driver of the Toyota Tundra was traveling at 54 mph in a 45 mph zone, and the distance where the Chrysler would be in view of the Toyota Tundra there was enough distance and time for the driver of the Toyota Tundra to stop or avoid the Chrysler,” the arrest warrant stated at the time the crash was being investigated.

“Further evidence shows the driver of the Toyota Tundra did not let off the accelerator and apply the brakes until approximately one second before impact, and the driver of the Toyota Tundra turned into the Chrysler when there was enough room to the left lane to avoid the vehicle.”

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, officers who arrived on the site after the incident invited Davis to exit his vehicle for a conversation. An officer noticed the 52-year-old man’s slurred speech and inability to stand properly. Beer cans were also discovered in his vehicle.

According to the arrest warrant, Davis “had a heavy stutter, the odor of his Arby’s sandwich emitted from his breath, and (the officer) smelled the odor of either mouthwash or a breath mint.”

Davis was first charged with vehicular homicide and DUI, however the latter charge was dropped despite the fact that the indictment said he was driving under the influence of alcohol.

David Holmes, an assistant district attorney, told the court on Monday that the crash was also possibly caused by the dangerous intersection. “This is an issue that Smyrna needs to address,” Holmes said. “This is a very dangerous intersection. We believe this is the best potential resolution to this case given the potential pitfalls at trial.”

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