DNA match from airbag catches man who stuck & killed man on Scooter in 2017

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A Nashville man on probation for dealing deadly Fentanyl-laced heroin has now been identified as the driver of a stolen Dodge Challenger that struck and killed the rider of a Honda motor scooter on the night of May 30, 2017.

Investigation by Traffic Officer Russ Ward, with assistance from the MNPD Crime Laboratory, led to Derrick Huey, 21, being charged Saturday with vehicular homicide by recklessness, auto theft, leaving the scene of a crash involving death, failure to report a crash, and unlawful gun possession by a convicted felon.

Derrick Huey (MNPD)

Vernon Knight, 48, of Baby Ruth Lane was riding his scooter east on Mt. View Road at 9:10 p.m. on May 30, 2017. A 2017 Dodge Challenger, a rental car that had been stolen from the Nashville airport, was being driven on the wrong side of the road at a high rate of speed. Knight saw the car coming directly at him and jumped away from his scooter and ran to the side of the road. The Challenger left the roadway and struck Knight before it crashed into trees. Knight died at the scene. The two persons in the Challenger started to run away, stopped and went back to the car to retrieve a gun and a bag Continuing investigation by Officer Ward led to the identification of Huey as the likely driver of the car. When Huey was arrested in December 2018 on a probation violation charge, he refused to answer any questions about the crash. A DNA sample was taken from him at that time. Scientists at the crime lab subsequently matched that sample to blood found on the air bag of the Dodge Challenger.

The fatal crash occurred five months after second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder charges against Huey were reduced to aggravated assault and attempted aggravated assault. He was placed on probation for four years in December 2016.

He was convicted of dealing Fentanyl-laced heroin to two men who lived on Fern Avenue. One of the men died. The second suffered internal injury. Huey’s bond on the charges from the May 2017 case is set at $164,500.

Call / Text Kurt NOW! 615-479-0550

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