Roman L. York is facing charges in an incident last July 7 in which a 74-year-old woman was killed by a wrong-way driver traveling at a high rate of speed on Shallowford Road on a Saturday afternoon. The victim was Myra Eaker.
York, 34, of Ringgold, is charged with vehicular homicide by impairment, reckless endangerment, vehicular assault, failure to maintain lane and DUI.
Police said York was driving a 2008 Nissan Titan pickup truck westbound on Shallowford Road.
He went into the turn lane and over into the eastbound lane, clipping a Lexus SUV driven by Delbert Bailey.
He then struck head-on a 1998 Buick Park Avenue driven by Ms. Eaker. The collision spun the Eaker vehicle around and knocked it into a 2005 Mercury Sable driven by Charlotte Hardaway. Ms. Hardaway and her daughter, Richarra Hardaway, were injured.
Police said York was also injured and was transported to Erlanger Hospital, where a forced blood draw was taken. It did not reveal any alcohol, but did show a level of Xanex just below the lethal amount, it was stated.
Police said such a dose of Xanex would cause drowsiness, confusion, impaired coordination and diminished reflexes.
An officer attempted to interview York at the hospital, but determined he was incoherent so the questioning was stopped.
Ms. Eaker was a former McDonald's manager who left behind her husband of 59 years and four children.