PORTLAND, Tenn. - A woman accused of causing a crash that killed a teenager hours before his high school graduation appeared in court for the first time Tuesday.
Laura Beasley, age 31, faces multiple charges, including vehicular homicide and DUI in the crash that killed 17-year-old Nick Townsend. Beasley went before a Sumner County Judge.
Investigators said Beasley was drunk when she crossed over the center line on Highway 52 in Portland last month.
Her vehicle slammed head-on into a car carrying Townsend, who later died. His family said he and his girlfriend were being driven home from volunteering with the Special Olympics that night.
She was taken into custody while Townsend was being rushed to the hospital. He died two days after the crash.
Beasley's two-year-old daughter was also in the car at the time of the crash. The child was not hurt.
Her preliminary hearing is now scheduled for July 10th.
Previous Story:
