East Tennessee man sentenced in death of former state representative

Jail tile
Jail tile

INGSPORT, Tenn. (AP) - An East Tennessee man has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for the drunken-driving death of a former state representative.

The Kingsport Times-News reports James D. Hamm Jr. of Kingsport was sentenced Thursday in Sullivan County. He was convicted in February of vehicular homicide by intoxication, driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a fatal collision, reckless endangerment and failure to exercise due care.

Former Rep. Mike Locke was placing campaign signs for Bud Hulsey in his primary election race when he was hit in 2014 by a vehicle driven by Hamm. Hamm stopped on the shoulder of an exit ramp, where a passing motorist took his keys until police arrived.

Locke briefly served as representative after the 2002 death of Keith Westmoreland.

Hulsey last year sponsored a bill in Locke's name pertaining to vehicular homicide cases.

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