43-year-old Vanderbilt Doctor Derrick Sowder was jailed on April 15th for a hit and run on Lebanon Pike. A witness provided police with Sowder’s license plate number, and they found him parking his vehicle in his driveway as they arrived. There was significant damage to his vehicle, consistent with the crash that took place approximately a mile away. Sowder told police that he had been hit by an unknown vehicle and drove home without stopping after the crash. Sowder appeared to be intoxicated and admitted to drinking a glass of wine about 3 hours before the crash. His speech was slow and slurred, and he had watery bloodshot eyes. Mr. Sowder’s boyfriend, James Lindsey, took a rideshare to his house after hearing about the crash and told police that He and Sowder each had about four glasses of wine at his house before Mr. Sowder left to drive home. Mr. Sowder hit Elliot Mullins on a motorcycle, and he suffered a compound fracture to his leg.
Tag: vehicular assault
Chastas Knight charged with vehicular assault after using meth while driving
35-year-old Chastas Knight is charged with vehicular assault after police say she sideswiped a Nissan Altima and drove head-on into a Nissan Altima in May of 2022. One of the drivers, Tina Forward, suffered a broken finger, and the other driver, John Ayers, suffered multiple broken bones and limbs. Knight also suffered several broken bones and was transported to the hospital, where she admitted to using methamphetamine prior to crashing into the two vehicles. Warrants were later issued for her arrest, and she was booked into jail this week.
Jeremy Morphis faces felony vehicular assault after DUI crash injures passenger
38-year-old Jeremy Morphis told police he consumed “two beers” before crashing his vehicle Sunday night with a passenger, Heather Knalls, inside. Witnesses say he was weaving and suddenly swerved to the left, crashing into the woods. Morphis was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Knalls, however, suffered a dislocated and fractured hip from the crash. He is charged with DUI and felony vehicular assault. In August, Judge Jennifer Smith gave Morphis a deferred judgment with no conviction for placing a hidden camera in the bathroom of his home to record an underage relative for sexual gratification.
Joshua Lira-Sierra crashed car while on Fentanyl & Marijuana, injuring two passengers
19-year-old Joshua Lira-Sierra was jailed this week on several outstanding warrants stemming from an incident in September of 2021 during which police say he nearly struck a police car while traveling at a high rate of speed and then crashed with his two passengers inside. Everyone was treated at Vanderbilt for their injuries, and his blood tests came back positive for Lorazepam, marijuana, and Fentanyl. Warrants were signed for two counts of vehicular assault on his passengers, Jorge Centella & Hadolp Castillo-Vasquez, evading arrest in a motor vehicle, and driving on a suspended license.