KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knox County District Attorney's Office said a man who killed an 18-year-old and severely hurt a 17-year-old in 2021 was convicted on Tuesday.
Forty-two-year-old Roger James Barnhart was sentenced to eight years for reckless homicide, vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and other misdemeanor driving offenses, according to the DA.
On June 27, 2021, Barnhat was drinking on Norris Lake before driving back to Knox County. Shortly before 8 p.m., he was texting and driving on Maynardville Highway near Texas Valley Road when he crossed all southbound lanes of traffic, entered the center turn lane and collided with another vehicle, the DA said.
The 18-year-old passenger in the other vehicle, Jaelyn Collins, was killed instantly after Barnhart's car overrode the hood and crushed her. The 17-year-old driver suffered a traumatic brain injury, multiple strokes and had to learn to walk and talk again, according to the DA.
The office said an additional vehicle narrowly avoided the collision.
Barnhart's blood was above the legal limit at the time of the wreck. Prosecutors argued that his actions were more egregious and pushed for him to serve a sentence instead of probation because it was revealed that he was an EMT, according to the DA.
“This is another example of the dangers of impaired driving,” District Attorney Charme Allen said. “We prosecute DUI cases in the hope that strict enforcement and aggressive prosecution may help prevent tragedies like the one in this case.”