In Knox County, a man has been sentenced to six months in jail following a DUI incident that led to a wreck and an attempt to deceive law enforcement about who was driving. Eric Austin Byrd, a 39-year-old driver, faced the repercussions of impaired driving when he wrecked his vehicle on S. Northshore Drive and subsequently tried to involve his mother in a cover-up.
After a trial this past May, Byrd was convicted of Driving Under the Influence First Offense, Failure to Maintain Lane, and Failure to Exercise Due Care. Arriving at the scene, Sgt. Ricky Powers of the Tennessee Highway Patrol encountered Byrd displaying signs of intoxication, with slurred speech and poor balance. Refusing to provide a blood sample for chemical testing, Byrd received his sentence from Judge Hector Sanchez following a sentencing hearing, according to a statement by the Knox County District Attorney's Office.
This resolution arrives as a clear statement against impaired driving. "Luckily, no one was injured in this wreck, but this is another example of the dangers of impaired driving," said DA Charme Allen. According to the DA's office, in addition to the jail time, Byrd was hit with the maximum fine of $1,500 and will have his license revoked for a year.
Throughout the proceedings, Assistant District Attorneys Mitch Eisenberg and Caleb Smothers presented the details of the case to the jury, illuminating Byrd's attempt to have his mother assert she was the driver after arriving at the crash scene. Bringing to light the severity of the situation and helping in the prosecution was Assistant Victim Witness Coordinator Brittany Wilhelmson. Byrd's attempt to mislead the authorities, however, did not sway the outcome of the trial, as reported by the Knox County District Attorney's Office.
