Post by Scumhunter on Aug 7, 2015 1:09:10 GMT -5
Fugitive Profile as of August 7th, 2015: (based on Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) 10 Most Wanted website)
Full Name: Benjamin Scott Brewer
Age: 39
DOB: 11/25/1975
Sex: Male
Race: White
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Brown
Height: 5'07"
Weight: 190
Who to call if you've seen him: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND
A man who police say caused a seven-car crash that killed six people, including two small children, is now a member of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation's (TBI's) 10 Most Wanted list.
On Monday, a Hamilton County grand jury indicted 39-year-old Benjamin Scott Brewer, of London, Kentucky, on four counts of reckless aggravated assault, driving under the influence of narcotics, speeding and making false reports about his duty status, according to multiple media reports.
According to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), was a new hire for a trucking company and had been on duty for 50 straight hours before the crash outside of Chattanooga on June 25th, 2015.
Federal regulations require truck drivers to be on duty for a maximum of 14 consecutive hours.
The report also said Brewer had driven for 15 consecutive hours before crashing in Chattanooga.
Eight vehicles were stopped on I-75 northbound because of construction when Brewer's tractor-trailer plowed into them from behind, killing six people. The victims were later identified as Brian Gallaher, 37, Jason Ramos, 36, Tiffany Watts, 31, her mother Sandra Anderson, 50, and Watts' two daughters Kelsie Garrigues, 11, and Savannah Garrigues, 9.
According to the report, Brewer's truck hit seven vehicles in the crash.
Brewer's application for employment dated June 16 required him to list all accidents and traffic convictions occurring in the previous three years. Instead, he omitted a June 2013 crash and a January 2015 citation for speeding 16 to 20 miles-per-hour above the limit, according to a released statement from the safety administration
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Brewer also tested positive for methamphetamine six weeks before the crash.
Brewer's journey started on Monday, June 22nd, 2015 in London, Kentucky.
He was to pick up a load of refrigerated freight in Kentucky and haul it to Florida, then return the truck to London, but there was a problem with truck's air compressor.
After getting that fixed, Brewer found a problem with the fuel delivery system, so took the truck back to the shop for more repairs
Brewer finally then hit the road to Florida but, after 45 hours straight on duty, sideswiped a vehicle in Wildwood, Florida.
No one was injured, but he was cited with reckless driving for causing the crash, and the damage to the truck resulted in another delay for repairs.
Brewer arrived at his destination in Florida on Wednesday June 24 - after being on duty for about 50 consecutive hours.
He clocked off at 4.30pm but, after 12 hours - at 4.30am on June 25 - he clocked back on and started his return to Kentucky.
Nearly 15 hours later at 7:10 pm - over his 14-hour daily on duty limit - he caused the crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Now the TBI, US Marshals, and Chattanooga Police Department are looking for Brewer in connection to the crash. The TBI is offering a 1,000 reward for Brewer, who has now been deemed a 'hazard to public safety'.
Thoughts? This is the third breaking news case we've seen out of Tennessee this month, although I think part of it is the state doing a better job than others of highlighting their tragic fugitive cases thanks to their top 10 list and not so much a reflection of the state itself. Still, this crash is so horrific and tragic. Savannah and Kelsie were supposed to soon visit their paternal grandmother in Seattle to spend the rest of the summer. And now the two girls and their mother and their other grandmother- three generations- are gone. And now Brian Gallagher (who had a son) and Jason Ramos's families are without their loved ones as well. And for what? Because a guy took some sort of narcotic to stay on the road instead of just pulling over to a rest stop and taking a breather somewhere down the line? Ridiculous. I understand Brewer didn't have an easy job and it can be grueling as most other drivers will probably attest to, but speeding, taking narcotics, and putting others' lives at risk to meet your deadline- maybe you need a new line of work if you need to do all that. This guy needs to be caught.
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3185070/Driver-charged-6-counts-vehicular-homicide-crash.html
tn.gov/assets/entities/tbi/alerts/attachments/USTN_BrewerChattanoogaPD.pdf
www.wsmv.com/story/29412116/multi-vehicle-accident-on-interstate-75-north-near-exit-11
www.wbir.com/story/news/2015/07/21/driver-in-crash-that-killed-east-tn-family-deemed-hazard-to-public-safety/30490303/