A Memphis woman who previously served nearly a year in prison for driving under the influence is now facing vehicular homicide and other serious charges tied to a Boston Street crash last spring.
Prosecutors say Patrice Kilpatrick, 61, was indicted Wednesday on vehicular homicide, aggravated assault and driving-under-the-influence charges stemming from a May 17, 2024 collision on Boston Street in Memphis. Court records state she had earlier served 11 months and 24 days in prison following a DUI conviction in January 2020, and the new indictment and booking revive her presence in the criminal courts system over the 2024 wreck.
According to Action News 5, Kilpatrick told officers at the scene that she had taken some medication, and investigators later linked her to the Boston Street crash. The station reports she was indicted and booked Wednesday on the new charges, and that court records document her earlier prison term for the 2020 DUI case.
What the charges mean
Tennessee law defines vehicular homicide as “the reckless killing of another by the operation of an automobile” and specifically includes deaths caused by intoxicated driving under the state’s criminal code. According to FindLaw, Tennessee Code § 39-13-213 sets out the elements of the offense. The Tennessee Supreme Court has held that people convicted of vehicular homicide by intoxication may be ineligible for probation, which narrows the range of alternative-sentencing options available in such cases, a point Tennessee courts have underscored in recent rulings.
How this case fits into Memphis' road-safety focus
Impaired-driving prosecutions and traffic-safety crackdowns have been a continuing focus for Memphis-area law enforcement after a run of deadly crashes in recent years. Statewide fatality data show Tennessee recorded fewer traffic deaths in 2025, with Memphis posting a sizable year-over-year decline, reflecting that push for tougher enforcement and prevention efforts. A statewide roundup from WGNS Radio highlighted those trends and local traffic-safety work.
Kilpatrick remains in custody following the indictment and booking, and the initial coverage did not list a court date. Action News 5 first reported the new charges. Kilpatrick is presumed innocent unless and until she is proven guilty in court.
