A man believed responsible for a fatal head on crash in March 2019, where Bessie Blevins was injured then died from those injuries, was sentenced in DeKalb County Criminal Court Monday.

James Christopher Vaughn, 40, who was indicted for driving under the influence, vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, simple possession of a schedule VI drug, marijuana, and failure to maintain lane of travel, entered a plea to vehicular assault and driving under the influence. The other charges were dismissed.

Vaughn received a sentence of four years to serve in the Tennessee Department of Corrections for the vehicular assault and 11 months and 29 days for the DUI to serve concurrently. He was given jail credit for 495 days and will lose his driver license for one year.

According to Smithville Police, Vaughn was driving north on South Congress Boulevard in a Chevy Cobalt when he crossed into the southbound lane and struck a Mercedes SUV driven by Billy Blevins near the intersection of Congress and Bryant Street. Bessie Blevins was a passenger.

After impact, Vaughn’s car came to rest in the center of the road and burst into flames. The SUV stopped in the grass on the west side of Congress Boulevard.

Vaughn, though seriously injured in the crash, was not believed to have suffered any burns. He apparently got out of his car before it caught fire. Before going to the hospital, Vaughn submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks. Vaughn’s speech was slurred and he was unsteady on his feet. He also had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person. Vaughn agreed to a blood test. He was taken by DeKalb EMS to Saint Thomas DeKalb Hospital and then airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Bessie Blevins was taken by EMS to the hospital. Mr. Belvins went to the hospital by private vehicle. Bessie passed away Wednesday May 29 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro