Man charged with vehicular homicide after striking 3 near Volkswagen
Jason Thornton, (Courtesy: HCSO)
We have obtained an affidavit detailing the circumstances behind a fatal incident at Volkswagen early Saturday Morning.
The affidavit states that the driver, Jason Thornton, was driving around trailers towards the paint shop he worked at.
In a statement to officers, Thornton stated that he didn’t recall what happened and believed he fell asleep as he was dozing off.
Witnesses say that his black sedan was traveling fast as it swerved into a group of pedestrians.
Thornton claims that all he remembered was objects hitting his car and windshield.
The affidavit states that evidence at the scene shows that he had left the travel lane 400 feet before the crash and that he did not brake.
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CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — On Saturday, a driver struck three pedestrians near the Chattanooga Volkswagen plant.
The incident killed one pedestrian and injured two others.
Chattanooga Police identified 37-year-old Jason Thornton as the driver.
They said Thornton left the roadway for an unknown reason and hit the three. They were all Volkswagen employees.
It happened on a walkway near the plant.
The CPD said Amber Reed was the pedestrian who died at the scene.
Another victim is still in the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
A local hospital treated the third victim, who was then released.
The police department consequently arrested Thornton. They charged him with the following:
- Vehicular homicide by recklessness,
- Failure to operate with due care,
- Reckless driving,
- Felony reckless endangerment,
- Speeding.
Police are still investigating.
