Shannon Walker, 45, has been sentenced to a 16-year prison term with an initial eight years to be served at full time without the possibility of early release for his role in the death of 24-year-old Ben Kredich, a local Knoxville pedestrian killed on August 21, 2023. According to WATE, Walker's sentence, confirmed by the Knox County District Attorney's office, includes convictions for vehicular homicide by intoxication, four counts of reckless endangerment, and possession with intent to sell fentanyl.
Walker was revived by paramedics with Narcan earlier in the day after an opioid overdose and was discharged from the hospital before the crash, still wearing his hospital band. His quick discharge and subsequent driving led to a collision that took a life, highlighting issues of addiction, oversight, and public safety. In response to the tragedy, Ben Kredich's family advocated for the Ben Kredich Act, a law to prevent individuals who have received Narcan from driving immediately. The law passed unanimously in the Tennessee General Assembly and took effect on July 1, as reported by Knox News.
Post-incarceration, Walker faces rigorous conditions as part of his plea deal, including an eight-year probation period marked by abstinence from driving, as detailed in a statement obtained by WBIR.
The Kredich family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against multiple parties, including emergency first responders and Covenant Health, alleging lapses that could have prevented Ben's death, as per the information from WATE.
