Jordan SheltonLt. John Harmon of the Tennessee Highway Patrol confirmed this afternoon that a 13-year-old girl who was riding in a horse-drawn buggy that was hit in a car crash has died of her injuries.
As a result of the death, the charges faced by the driver who crashed into the buggy have been increased. Jason Shelton, 28, will now be charged with vehicular homicide for the victim's death.
Shelton had earlier been charged for driving under the influence after hitting a horse-drawn buggy carrying two passengers, a 50-year-old named Daniel Wanner and the 13-year-old girl on Linsdale Road in Polk County on Tuesday.
A preliminary fatality report provided by Tennessee Highway Patrol said that the defendant was traveling south on Linsdale Road at a high rate of speed when it rear-ended the horse-drawn buggy.
The defendant traveled off the roadway before regaining control of his vehicle and allegedly attempting to leave the scene. The report says that the vehicle stalled due to the damage it had sustained and the Shelton attempted to flee on foot before being detained by authorities.
Both the defendant and the second victim were injured in the collision.