Benjamin Brewer
A Criminal Court jury from Nashville on Thursday afternoon found Benjamin Scott Brewer guilty as charged on all 12 counts.
Sentencing will be March 12.
Vehicular homicide by intoxication carries a term of 8-30 years under tough new sentencing passed by the Legislature in 2015. There is no probation for those convicted of the charge.
The long-haul truck driver was charged in the June 25, 2015, wreck at the Ooltewah exit in which six people were killed.
Brewer, 42, was charged with six counts of vehicular homicide by intoxication, four counts of aggravated reckless assault, DUI and speeding.
Killed were well-known Cleveland musician Brian Gallaher and Dalton State assistant director of residential life Jason Ramos. Also killed were Tiffany Watts, her mother Sandra Anderson, and daughters Kelsie and Savannah.
The defense had contended there was no proof that Brewer was intoxicated at the time of the wreck just north of the exit near a construction site.
District Attorney Neal Pinkston said proof showed that Brewer was high on meth when he plowed into a line of slowly moving cars at a high speed. He said the brakes were in good working order and Brewer himself said he did not fall asleep.
The defense said "the most sensible explanation" was that Brewer dozed off.
It was noted that law enforcement allowed Brewer to go home some hours after the incident and he was not charged until over a month later.
The jury was selected in Davidson County, then brought to Chattanooga for the trial. Testimony was on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, then the jury began deliberating at 9 a.m. Thursday. The jury returned at 3:20 p.m.