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Saturday, November 14, 2026Nov 14

Jurors get case of 2018 Soddy-Daisy fatal wrong-way crash

Staff Photo by Ellen Gerst / Attorney Lee Davis, representing Justin Whaley, gives his closing argument on Thursday.
Staff Photo by Ellen Gerst / Attorney Lee Davis, representing Justin Whaley, gives his closing argument on Thursday.

Prosecutors say he was drunk. The defense says he was just confused.

Jurors heard the closing arguments Thursday in the trial of a man charged with causing the death of another in a 2018 wrong-way crash.

Justin Whaley, 42, faces eight charges including vehicular homicide for a July 3, 2018, crash. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday, the first day of his trial.

(READ MORE: Jurors hear opening arguments, testimony in 2018 fatal vehicle accident)

He was heading home from a friend’s house around 5:40 a.m. when he turned around on Highway 111 and began driving the wrong way, witnesses testified. He then hit James Brumlow’s car head-on. Brumlow, 36, died from the crash.