Hamilton County Sheriff's Office / Jason Wayne ThorntonAn Ooltewah man charged with hitting three people and killing one while driving at Chattanooga's Volkswagen plant Saturday did not brake and was falling asleep while driving, according to court filings.
Jason Wayne Thornton, 37, faces charges of vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment, speeding and failing to exercise due care as a driver, court records show.
(READ MORE: One dead, two injured in crash on Volkswagen Drive)
Thornton told police that early Saturday morning he had been driving around trailers toward the paint shop where he worked at the Volkswagen plant and "must have fallen asleep," according to an affidavit in the case. He said he did not recall what happened and should have pulled over.
The report states Thornton remembered objects hitting his car and windshield. He told police he got out to see what happened, but did not remember seeing anything and felt like he was dozing off.
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A witness told investigators the black sedan Thornton was driving was going fast, swerved and did not stop before hitting three pedestrians, the affidavit states.
Police said evidence at the scene suggests Thornton did not brake at all before hitting the pedestrians, and the car swerved out of the correct lane around 400 feet before the collision.
"Physical evidence indicates that the vehicle was traveling faster than the posted speed limit of 30 mph," the affidavit states.
One of the pedestrians, Amber Reed, was pronounced dead at the scene from her injuries.
(READ MORE: Six pedestrians, cyclists fatally struck in Chattanooga so far this year)
Two others were taken to a hospital, one with serious and one with minor injuries, according to police. Everyone involved in the collision was employed at the Volkswagen plant, police said.
The pedestrian with minor injuries had been treated and released from the hospital as of Sunday, Chattanooga police said in a news release. The other remained hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, police said.
Thornton is being held in custody at Silverdale Detention Center on a $100,000 bond, jail records show. He is set to appear in court May 11 in front of Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Lila Statom.
The accident halted production at the plant for the day. A Volkswagen Chattanooga spokesperson did not return multiple requests for comment on Monday.
The plant is typically staffed around the clock, with shifts beginning at 6 a.m., 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. The accident happened around 5:40 a.m.
"We are deeply saddened to learn about the tragedy at the Volkswagen plant," the United Auto Workers Local 42, a union representing some Volkswagen plant workers, said in a statement on its website. "Our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of those injured and killed in the accident at the plant."
Contact Ellen Gerst at egerst@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6319.